The Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) is pleased to announce that the International Testing Agency (ITA) will host the first session of its 2021 ITA Educational Webinar Series, which will be available for biathletes and their support personnel next week. The debut session of 2021 will take place on Thursday 28 January from 14.00 – 15.30 CET. 

The Webinar, which follows on from a successful pilot series held by the ITA last year, will offer biathletes and members of their entourage – whether they be coaches, parents, doctors, or others – an opportunity to learn how to navigate the anti-doping system. 

In Thursday’s session, biathletes and support members will have the opportunity to hear from the Director of Education for the recently-formed Sport Integrity Australia, Alexis Cooper; three-time Team Canada Olympian in the Bobsleigh, Neville Wright; and the ITA’s Education Manager and former Olympian Olya Abasolo Ovtchinnikova. The 90-minute webinar will provide the chance to hear from the three experts and also ask questions of them to further your anti-doping knowledge. 

“At the BIU, we know that anti-doping rules and regulations can often be hard to understand, however all biathletes and support persons have a responsibility to know the system and understand how it is there to protect them. This webinar with the ITA is an excellent occasion to engage on the topic and bolster knowledge about the ins and outs of the anti-doping system,” said BIU Head, Greg McKenna.

Starting on Thursday, the ITA, will run a series of monthly webinars throughout the year focussed on different aspects of one of the most complicated systems for elite athletes to understand: anti-doping. 

Biathletes and support personnel that are interested in the webinar should register here.

Topic: Set up for a successful year – Tips on navigating the anti-doping system

Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3eoyh4dITkmyQXn_lFlrsg

Event date:  Thursday,  January 28th, 14h-15h30 CET

Presenters:

Alexis Cooper, Director – Education, Sport Integrity Australia

Neville Wright OLY – Three-time Team Canada Olympian, bobsleigh

Olya Abasolo Ovtchinnikova OLY, ITA Education Manager

The Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) is pleased to announce that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)’s new and improved Anti-Doping Education and Learning platform (ADEL) is now available for the biathlon community.

The original ADEL was launched in January 2018, however the new ADEL supports the new WADA International Standard for Education, which took effect on 1 January 2021 and is seen as a significant step forward in anti-doping education policy.

BIU Head, Greg McKenna said: “Education is an essential long-term strategy if we’re to make inroads into tackling doping as an issue in modern-day sport, and that’s why the introduction of the new and improved ADEL is an important step forwards for the biathlon community. The availability of education and learning programs for the our community, whether they be biathletes, coaches, parents or other entourage members, is another positive step forward for instilling a positive culture for tomorrow’s athletes.”

The new ADEL platform – which is available via desktop, laptop, tablet or smart phone, as well as via the ADEL Mobile App – features a wider range of educational courses and resources for more target audiences as identified in the World Anti-Doping Code and allows for the biathlon community to access technical help on a range of topics; this includes international and national-level athletes, those in a Registered Testing Pool, parents, coaches, medical professionals and others. The platform also includes resources including: the Athlete and Athlete Support Personnel Guides to the Significant Changes in the 2021 Code; the Athlete and Athlete Support Personnel Guide to the 2021 List, as well as, all Code Implementation Support Program (CISP) resources, including the recently published Guidelines for Education, Therapeutic Use Exemptions and Results Management. 

The new ADEL also has personalised learning plans, a gamification concept and community learning features so that users can exchange questions with people working in anti-doping. You can discover more by visiting the WADA website.