BASES announces a new partnership with UKAD
8th June 2022
Following a review of the existing agreement, BASES and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) are pleased to announce a new Memorandum of Understanding to support our members in helping to keep sport clean.
UKAD is an active participant in the global fight against doping in sport, and is the national body responsible for creating a UK-wide environment of confidence in clean sport. In the UK, UKAD makes sure sports bodies comply with the World Anti-Doping Code through implementation and management of the UK’s National Anti-Doping Policy.
According to various research in the field, athletes at all levels are heavily influenced by the Athlete Support Personnel (ASP) around them, and this influence extends to an athlete’s vulnerability to committing anti-doping rule violations and their willingness to dope.
UKAD, which works to ensure sport in the UK is free from doping and to promote and protect clean sport through education, testing and enforcement, will use its world-renowned expertise to help BASES’ pool of ASP with their education and awareness of anti-doping. UKAD and BASES will collaborate to ensure ASP have access to clean sport education and resources that will allow them to uphold the integrity of sport and the welfare of the athletes they work with.
Speaking on the partnership, UKAD’s Chief Executive Jane Rumble said: “We know that support personnel play an important role in the development and careers of athletes at all levels, so it’s vital that these practitioners have the knowledge to be able to provide accurate advice and guidance in relation to anti-doping.
“This partnership will help us to reach and work more closely with ASP on a regular basis and we’re grateful to BASES for their support and efforts in helping us to protect clean sport.”
Professor Sue Backhouse FBASES, convenor of the BASES Clean Sport Interest Group and member of the BASES Integrity Advisory Group, said: “Sport and Exercise Scientists can directly influence the environments within which they work, by shaping and challenging the norms and identities of the communities they serve. Proactively engaging BASES members in protecting the integrity of sport and prioritising the welfare of athletes is critical to clean sport. Therefore, this collaborative partnership between BASES and UKAD is a key lever in the clean sport ecosystem.”
ASP and anyone interesting in learning more about anti-doping can complete a variety of free online education courses via UKAD’s Clean Sport Hub, including its recently launched Introduction to Clean Sport course.
