Conclusions and recommendations
1. Given
the apparent ingenuity and foolhardiness of the minority of sportspeople
who seek to cheat, we recommend that the DCMS, UK Sport, DoH and
MHRA jointly determine whether to seek to pre-empt the abuse of
new medical research and developments by sportsmen and -women
or their coaches. (Paragraph 30)
2. We commend the
efforts of UK Sport, and all the relevant sports authorities and
governing bodies within the UK, for the steps already taken. We
regard the position of WADA—accepting demonstrable progress
and determination to succeed—to be a much healthier approach
than legalistic nit-picking. The international push for drug-free
sport depends heavily on negotiated consensus and the winning
over of hearts and minds across a complex sporting landscape of
markedly different disciplines, countries and cultures. This process
takes time and we believe that it is vital to keep the fundamental
objectives, principles and values embodied in the World Anti-Doping
Code to the fore. (Paragraph 42)
3. We believe that
the prevalence of performance-enhancing drugs in sport should
not be over-stated. There is no doubt that a small number of sportsmen
and -women will deliberately or recklessly take, or do, anything
to gain a competitive advantage. There also seem to be those who
seek to profit from the development of new ways to help cheats
to do so. However, it seems equally clear that a significant number
of sportspeople commit violations as a result of carelessness,
ignorance and/or sheer bad luck. In assessing the situation, and
presenting data, these categories should not be conflated, nor
should it be forgotten that, even when taken together, these sportsmen
and -women represent a tiny minority. (Paragraph 47)
4. We believe that
there are sufficiently worrying indications of dangerous levels
of steroid use, outside elite sport, to warrant specific research
by the Government into the extent of the illicit trade and use
of steroids amongst gym-users in the UK. We recommend that the
Government commission comprehensive research into the prevalence
of steroid use. The status of anabolic steroids under the law,
and the regulation—or rather the non-regulation—of
gyms and fitness clubs in this respect, should be reviewed in
the light of the results. (Paragraph 53)
5. The information
collection and analysis relating to drugs in elite sport is currently
unsatisfactory in view of the seriousness with which the Government
claims to be taking the matter and the importance of robust data
in establishing an effective level of deterrent and preventative
action through the testing regime. We expect that the development
of international cooperation under the auspices of WADA and efforts
of national agencies to achieve WADA compliance will help. We
recommend that further resources be allocated to UK Sport to remedy
this deficit with respect to British sportsmen and -women whether
they are tested here or abroad. (Paragraph 56)
6. We recommend that
all sports governing bodies in the UK agree a joint tariff of
penalties for anti-doping violations based on sanctions set out
in the World Anti-Doping Code. (Paragraph 69)
7. We agree with the
Government that harmonisation of the principles behind the effort
to combat drugs in sport across all sports and all countries will
be a benefit. However, the terms of the debate need careful definition
as harmony and consistency of approach cannot necessarily equate
to a uniformity of outcome in each individual case. (Paragraph
73)
8. We were presented
with absolutely no evidence in support of the fundamental case
for a new agency, namely that the Performance Directorate within
UK Sport, or the organisation as a whole, ever acted to inhibit
the operation of the Drug-Free Sport Directorate to allow a UK
sportsman or -woman to compete for a medal, or other trophy, to
which he or she was not entitled. We recommend, however, that
UK Sport take whatever steps deemed necessary to separate and
clarify the twin chains of command within the agency to ensure
that any such perceptions are laid to rest once and for all. (Paragraph
79)
9. If the Government
is serious about its support for drug-free sport then it must
enable UK Sport to develop the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel
into a national tribunal service for the management of anti-doping
cases. This service must be able to protect sports governing bodies
from liabilities arising out of errors in its conduct of their
cases. (Paragraph 93)
10. To tackle the
issue of consistency across sports we recommend that the UK Sport
seeks to establish as much coordination as possible between the
FA—and any other governing bodies who wish to manage their
own cases—and the new service, along the lines suggested
by the PMP report. (Paragraph 94)
11. UK Sport, in concert
with the Department and relevant sports governing bodies, should
establish a common accreditation process for any new arrangements,
with provision for periodic review, to assure the public, and
all sports, that robust and equitable systems are in place. (Paragraph
95)
12. While we would
welcome a voluntary move by the pharmaceutical industry to introduce
a labelling scheme aimed at identifying medicines containing substances
banned in elite sport, we would regard moves to impose such a
requirement as a possible misdirection of effort and of anti-doping's
scant resources. Other avenues such as the provision of training
and awareness-raising material for GPs and, in particular, pharmacists
might be fruitful (and such efforts could start in cities hosting
significant sports events). (Paragraph 100)
13. As with the medicines
issue, we would have some sympathy with the likely resistance
to formal regulation from the global supplements industry in the
interests of a tiny fraction of its customers. However, there
are some possible alternatives to Mr Richardson's, and UK Sport's,
advice to 'just say no' which we suggest below. (See paragraph
104 in the main Report)
14. The Government
needs to keep its focus on the realisation and implementation
of the fundamental principles contained within the WADA Code and,
while protecting and promoting existing effective systems, should
seek to lift the performance of all sporting bodies to the level
of the best with a mixture of advice, support, public validation
of compliant practices and the judicious application of resources.
(Paragraph 109)
15. We believe that
there are also important contributions that can be made in policy
areas beyond the sporting arena, such as an assessment of the
issue of steroid use outside elite sport and work on developing
an approach to dietary supplements that could enable the problems
of contamination, and/or undisclosed ingredients, to be tackled.
(Paragraph 110)
16. Given that observance
of the rules is integral to good sporting conduct, especial efforts
to ensure such conduct on the field of play should not be seen
as an external burden on sport but rather it should be an objective
of every responsible governing body, and sporting participant,
at the elite or professional level. (Paragraph 118)
17. There seem to
be, however, implications of the public profile of sportsmen and
-women that do create wider expectations than simply good conduct
on the field of play. It is impossible to over-estimate the impact
and influence of sportspeople on young people who admire, follow
and emulate their heroes' activities on and off the pitch, court
and track. We urge sporting authorities, managers and coaches
to bear this in mind in all the advice, training and wider guidance
provided to their athletes and players. (Paragraph 119)
18. We look forward
to detailed announcements from DCMS on how it will be tackling
its new Public Service Agreement targets—set out in the
2004 Comprehensive Spending Review—to increase participation
in sport amongst children and priority groups and halt the year
on year rise in obesity amongst under-11 year-olds. We expect
to see enhanced levels of investment in the key grassroots sports
where the highest levels of participation can be achieved in the
most cost-effective manner. (Paragraph 126)
19. We recommend that
the DCMS, Sport England, The FA (and other relevant sports governing
bodies) sit down with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
and establish an effective audit process that will be able to
settle arguments over the real outcomes for sport from the implementation
of planning policy in respect of playing fields. (Paragraph 128)
20. We were deeply
impressed by the extent of the commitment of sports in Britain—especially
football—to the communities in which they are based and
to wider society. We recognise that there are some very practical
reasons why sports might invest to attract future generations
of players, supporters and consumers and to ensure good relations
with government. However, the existing partnerships between sports
bodies and public authorities demonstrate that sport is a willing
and able partner for the Government on a range of policy issues
and indicates that there is the potential for further gains on
the back of the effective investment of public resources. (Paragraph
136)
21. We recommend that
the Department for Culture, Media and Sport lead a cross-departmental
review of the existing array of sport-related initiatives to promote
public policy benefits. This review should:
· include
a thorough assessment of the potential for further investments
of public expenditure to achieve cost-effective contributions
to Government objectives; and
· cover
the full gamut of relevant policies and not just the promotion
of elite sport and/or healthy and active lifestyles. (Paragraph
137)
22. We
believe that recently-retired sportsmen and -women—with
good track records and high public profiles—represent a
pool of talent with particular potential for meeting the demands
of new 'role-modelling' initiatives. (Paragraph 138)
| 
