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Commonwealth steps up the fight against drug abuse in sport

12 August 2004

Commonwealth sports ministers from the organisation's 53 member states meeting in Athens on the eve of the Olympics, issued an action plan to ensure that all Commonwealth countries can take part in the worldwide anti-doping campaign.

Doping
"the Commonwealth has a big role to play in helping rid sport of drug cheats..."
The conference was addressed by Dick Pound, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and now the Commonwealth's London-based Secretariat will be funding new technical advisers to operate alongside WADA staff in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said: "We know that some countries do not have the resources to play a full part in the fight against drug abuse in sport without external assistance. These new advisers will be able to spread the message and pass on advice to those most in need of assistance."

One third of Commonwealth countries came to the conference not having yet signed up to the Copenhagen Declaration, which commits nations to implement WADA's tough anti-doping code.

The United Kingdom, one of the few countries with two WADA-recognised doping laboratories, has promised to help developing nations by passing on knowledge and best practice.

Dick Pound head of the World Anti Doping Association congratulates Lesotho's Sports Minister 'Mathabiso Lepono
Dick Pound head of the World Anti Doping Association congratulates Lesotho's Sports Minister 'Mathabiso Lepono after she has signed the Copenhagen Declaration on doping at the Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Athens Thursday 12 August. 

Richard Caborn, the chairman of the meeting and UK's sports minister, said: "We know that drug abuse is a cancer which has to be rooted out for the good of sport.  Countries like the UK have valuable experience which we are only too happy to share with other Commonwealth nations. We are determined that there must be no weak links in the fight against drugs in sport."

The Commonwealth ministers' action plan also includes a pledge to co-operate so that developing nations will get valuable help to enable them to compete to stage international sporting events - either on their own, or jointly with other countries. Those which have won major events, like Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia and the United Kingdom, will pass on their knowledge of how to successfully bid for championships and then stage them.

The conference also committed Commonwealth countries to promoting full participation by women in sport.

Ministers also endorsed the establishment of a Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS), following a presentation by the Secretary-General. This new group's remit will include the promotion of sport as a tool for economic and social development.

 

Commonwealth Sports Ministers
Commonwealth Sports Ministers after their meeting in Athens 12 August 2004
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