The campaign includes comprehensive online information (wru.co.uk/antidoping) with clear advice to help inform players and support staff of the rules and regulations with regards to doping, including a new World Anti-Doping Code which comes into force on January 1. The web page includes links to help players check any medication and supplements they may be thinking of taking to ensure they are not on the prohibited substances list.
Wales captain Sam Warburton has produced a video message as part of the campaign, calling on everyone involved in the game in Wales to protect our sport so that every player has the right to compete with and against other clean players.
In the video he says, “As a Rugby Player you set goals to get to the highest levels, from turning out for your club to representing your Region and pulling on the Wales jersey at the Rugby World Cup.
“I know that every time I go on that field I have trained to my potential to reach these goals and that I have taken nothing I shouldn’t have that has enhanced my performance. I know my hard work in the gym and on the training field has made me the player I am.”
All clubs, players and support personnel have been written to, to highlight the changes in the World Anti-Doping Code which come into effect on January 1 and include two additional Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) along with greatly increased sanctions for breaching the Code.
There will be four year bans for cheating involving serious doping substances (eg steroids, growth hormone, EPO) and refusal or evading sample collection. The new ADRVs cover Complicity – helping another person to cover up an ADRV or avoid detection – and Prohibited Association – associating with a person such as a coach, doctor or physio who has been found guilty of a doping violation such as providing banned substances.
It is stressed in the letters issued this week that there is no room in the Code for carelessness or not knowing, and players are encouraged to check the prohibited lists, found via wru.co.uk/antidoping which include over-the-shelf medication and supplements.
WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said, “The Welsh Rugby Union takes anti-doping offences very seriously and condemns any violation of anti-doping rules. The WRU works closely with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and this important information campaign comes as a revised World Anti-Doping Code comes into effect as of January 1.”
A key element of the campaign is to ask members of the Welsh rugby family and members of the public to help keep our strong rugby values in tact by reporting anyone who they suspect is involved in doping.
Warburton added, “Please speak out, protect our sport and help keep it clean by reporting it to the WRU or UK Anti-Doping.”
The WRU advises all its National Squads on anti-doping and ensures the professional regions and semi-professional clubs fully educate their players of the UK anti-doping rules and regulations. Players who are on the international pathway also have to complete World Rugby’s e-learning course.
As part of a wider campaign to increase awareness of anti-doping rules and regulations, the national governing body is also training its coach development officers and school-club hub officers to become advisors and educators so they can deliver the Anti-Doping education and setting up training for volunteers in clubs to become anti-doping advisors.
Testing is carried out at international, professional and semi-professional matches and training. Out of Competition Testing occurs at amateur level if UKAD receive intelligence of a player committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
Roger Lewis added, “We encourage anyone who has any intelligence of doping taking place to speak out and call the UKAD Report Doping in Sport number – tel 0800 032 2332, go to www.reportdoping.com or email anti-doping@wru.co.uk ”
