6 May 2008

Multiple Paralympic champion Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson today revealed the terms of reference for a major review of anti doping policies within British Athletics, along with the names of a presentation panel of experts who have volunteered to assist her.

Dame Tanni, who is undertaking the review at the request of UK Athletics, announced that she will look into 3 key areas 

• The policies of UK Athletics regards anti doping

• The penalties that UK Athletics might impose under WADA & IAAF rules.

• The education of athletes and coaches.

Dame Tanni announced she will be joined by four leading authorities from athletics and world sport

• Ed Moses

• Colin Jackson

• Mike Lee

• John Scott

The panel will gather and review a wide range of data and opinions via written and oral submissions from across the world of athletics. Click here to get involved

Stressing the importance of the review, Dame Tanni said

“Athletics is a clean sport with only a tiny minority who have ever resorted to using drugs.  However, the publicity & profile given to those few is very damaging to our sport. 

"I have been asked by the CEO of UK Athletics to lead a wide ranging review of every aspect of UKA’s anti doping policy – from athlete education to exploring how we can increase the deterrent through length and type of bans from competition.  We recognise we have perhaps had inconsistent or unclear policies in the past and that must stop.  We recognise too that we must ensure that any rulings the review might make can co-exist with global laws laid down by the World Anti Doping Agency”

CEO of UK Athletics Niels de Vos added:

“Tanni has assembled a genuinely independent and powerful review panel and I very much look forward to receiving their report later this year.

It is important that the review is informed by knowledge and opinion from those in sport who know the system, and those outside who wish to help”