Role of the IOC and the Council of Europe in anti-doping policy.

Role of the IOC and the Council of Europe in anti-doping policy.

Anti-Doping policy has altered from concerning a small group of governing bodies and countries to a large global affair in the last 40 years. This has encouraged development of series of international agreements, development of series of international agreements, the establishment of new global forums (World Anti-Doping Agency) and the commitment of many millions of dollars of public and government body funding.

Up to the late 80s, anti-doping policies among major sporting countries could be seen falling into 1 of 3 categories:

- 1) small number countries – inc. France Belgium Scandinavian states where Gov. actively pursuing anti doping strategy

- 2) larger amount of passive countries such as the US and West Germany, did not treat doping as priority for public policy due to either lack of resources or to reluctance to investigate own sports system in case it jeopardized their increasing int. success (such as Australia + Canada)

- 3) most significant group which included former East Germany and Soviet Union. The Gov. actively colluded in doping of its international athletes.

40 years ago there was no testing and little discussion of drug abuse within sport, so the doping issue is very recent and policy solutions have only been introduced recently as well.

Evolution of AD can b traced along 4 main dimensions

- Clarification of policy focus

- Generation and maintenance of political commitment

- Technology development

- The establishment of the necessary resource infrastructure

Where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Council of Europe come in:

A series of high profile scandals in early to mid 60s forced issue on agenda of government and sports bodies. The IOC had been wary of government interest and involvement in sport and Olympic sport and they then established Medical commission in 61 and in 62, they decide they would take a stand against doping in sports. the Convention of European Sport Governing Bodies was scheduled for January 1963, at which a definition of doping was set up. This was adopted by the IOC:

This early attempt at defining the problem was the start of a period of discussion by all key bodies interested in doping.

Drug testing began around the same time as this convention. But it wasn’t until 5 years later that it re-established and reinvigorated the Medical Commission with a bright to advise the IOC and to oversee development policy. In 1966, 5 cyclists at the World Road Racing Champs refused to give urine sample.