Biathlon Integrity Unit partners with University to advance AD-Education
The Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) has announced today that it has partnered with the Tirol, Austria-based University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology’s (UMIT) Institute for Sport Alpine Medicine and Health Tourism to build and implement a comprehensive clean sport education programme.
The two-year long partnership programme will be fully compliant with the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code and 2021 International Standard for Education, both of which come into force at the start of next month.
Anti-doping programmes have traditionally focused on the doping control aspects, however in recent years the emphasis has shifted increasingly to information provision and values-based education, so that all athletes are aware of the rules and the dangers of doping.
Central to the BIU – UMIT collaboration will be work that monitors the BIU’s education programmes; an exercise that is seen as essential in maintaining or adapting existing preventative education programmes. In addition, the partnership will allow new programmes to be developed in order to eliminate any weaknesses and knowledge gaps [in the programme] among athletes and, further, allow resources to be utilised efficiently.
The overriding purpose of the BIU – UMIT preventative education partnership is to ensure Biathletes are provided with the best possible educational recourses. This will be achieved through analysis and, evaluation of the programmes which the BIU will offer its athletes. The evaluation exercise will be conducted through an online questionnaire, which will be sent to biathletes by email. In conjunction, an on-site survey will also take place at key biathlon competitions.
The educational measures that result from the evaluation will be implemented in collaboration with the IOC-backed International Testing Agency (ITA).
“The BIU is delighted to partner with UMIT to deliver this education monitoring programme for biathletes worldwide. Education has gained in importance [in anti-doping] in recent years, as it is widely seen as central to how we keep athletes competing fair and, further, to how we prevent doping in biathlon for future generations. At the BIU, we prioritise listening to athletes and learning how we can best deliver effective education to them as professional competitors,” said BIU Head, Greg McKenna.
2021 World Anti-Doping Code to take effect for world’s biathletes
In six weeks’ time, on 1 January 2021, the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) will take effect for the world’s athletes.
With the Code set to be introduced midway through the 2020 – 2021 Biathlon season, it is essential biath-letes, their coaches, doctors, physios and administrators and other individuals within national biathlon federations are familiar with the anti-doping rules in the document; and, above all, the responsibilities they have under the Code framework.
As is customary, the Code will be released alongside eight International Standards, which, together, serve to protect athletes’ rights to participate in clean sport and ensure consistent anti-doping programmes across the world.
The 2021 Code contains some important changes from its 2015 predecessor, including:
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Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act – this new Act promotes athlete rights within anti-doping for the first time, and ensures they are clearly outlined, easily accessible and applicable globally (e.g. an athlete has the right to anti-doping education);
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Bans – where “aggravating circumstances” can be proven, (e.g. using multiple banned substances), a ban can be increased by an additional two years;
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Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and Whistleblowing – there is a new ADRV included in the Code to protect individuals sharing information on doping in sport (also known as whistleblowers). Within the new Code, it will become an offence to either discourage the reporting of information or to retaliate against an individual for sharing information;
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Substances of Abuse – shorter bans are possible for a certain group of substances when found in competition* if it is determined that their use was out of competition and not related to sports performance (it is recognised that taking these substances could be part of wider substance abuse or an addiction problem, which could lead to a reduced ban if a substance misuse treatment programme is completed);
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Fraudulent Conduct – if an individual engages in fraudulent conduct following an alleged ADRV (e.g. falsifying documents, attempted complicity or tampering), this will be treated as a separate offence and an additional ban can be applied.
The 2021 World Anti-Doping Code will be the fourth of the global anti-doping rulebook; previous editions of which came into effect in 2003, 2009 and 2015. You can find the full 2021 Code on WADA’s website.
As the new organisation protecting the integrity of biathlon, we are here to provide guidance and help you with any questions you may have surrounding the Code. Alternatively, if you have any specific concerns about the new Code and how it impacts you, we advise that you speak to your National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO).
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) team at: antidoping@biathlonintegrity.com
*In-Competition – ‘The 2021 Code provides a standard definition for “in-competition” which is the period commencing at 11:59 pm on the day before a competition in which the athlete is scheduled to compete through the end of such competition and the sample collection process related to such competition.
WADA Releases the 2021 Prohibited List
Each year, around 1 October, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) publishes a new Prohibited List – its list of what substances and methods are banned in international sport. This is following a rigorous review process in which WADA and its stakeholders identify any substances and methods that should be added or removed from the List, as well as if any categories need to be modified or clarified.
The new List and 2021 World Anti-Doping Code come into force on 1 January 2021, so, irrespective of whether you are an athlete, coach, doctor, physio, or anyone else affected by the international anti-doping rules, it is essential you are aware of the changes to the List.
You can find the full 2021 Prohibited List on WADA’s website. To help highlight and explain the changes, WADA has also published its Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes.
As the new organisation protecting the integrity of biathlon, we are here to provide guidance and help you with any questions you may have surrounding the List and the Code.
If you have any concerns about the prohibited status of your medications and their ingredients, we advise that you speak to your national anti-doping organization (NADO). And whilst we cannot provide advice on specific supplements and whether they contain banned substances – we can only advise on the risks – you may wish to use a risk minimisation programme recommended by your National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO).
Don’t forget, to learn more about the main changes to the 2021 Prohibited List, visit WADA’s Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) team at: info@biathlonintegrity.com
CAS Decision: Evgeny Ustyugov Found Guilty of AD-Rule Violation
The Biathlon Integrity Unit welcomes the recent decision of the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD), which determined on the basis of Mr Ustyugov’s Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) profile that he committed an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) of use of a prohibited substance and/or method in the period 2010-2014 in breach of Article 2.2 of the IBU Anti-Doping Rules.
Furthermore, the CAS ADD, which serves as the Disciplinary Tribunal under the new IBU Constitution, found that Mr Ustyugov had the benefit of protection and support to artificially augment his performance through doping and to avoid detection, which could not have been achieved other than with a significant degree of orchestration or common enterprise. In light of those aggravating factors, the CAS ADD imposed the maximum period of ineligibility of four years.
All competitive results obtained by Mr Ustyugov from January 2010 to the end of the 2013/2014 season, including all results and medals won at the 2010 Olympic Games and the 2014 Olympic Games, are disqualified.
This was the first case brought by the newly established Biathlon Integrity Unit.
The Biathlon Integrity Unit Board commented that “It welcomes the decision of the CAS ADD in this case and believes it underlines our commitment to ensuring Biathlon is a clean and trusted sport”.
The CAS ADD decision may be appealed by both parties involved to the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division within 21 days from receipt of the final decision.
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NOTE TO EDITORS
About the Biathlon Integrity Unit:
– The Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) is an operationally independent Unit, which manages all doping and other integrity-related matters for the sport of Biathlon.
– The Unit’s remit includes anti-doping, the pursuit of individuals engaged in competition results manipulation, bribery, breaches of betting rules, and any other violation under the IBU Integrity Code.
– It is the BIU’s vision to ensure Biathlon is a fair, clean and trusted sport. The Unit will strive to earn the confidence, respect and support of both the Biathlon Family and wider sporting community.
