03 June 2010

The UK Anti Doping Agency which administers the anti doping programme across sports including athletics has launched a new confidential hotline, inviting people involved in all sports to ‘make the call’ and safeguard the competitive landscape.

The initiative, first announced last year, comes on the back of UK Anti-Doping’s first six months of operation which has already seen a world-first positive test for human growth hormone.

In addition the organisation has formed an Athlete Committee, celebrated five years of the 100% Me anti-doping education programme and provided education and support to every member of the GB team at the Vancouver Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

The Report Doping in Sport line is a new service for athletes, support personnel or concerned family and friends to pass on information about the use, concerns or knowledge concerning substances.

By dialling 0800 032 2332, callers will be able to speak to someone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The line gives the sporting community a simple mechanism by which they can lodge any suspicions or evidence they may have, safe in the knowledge that calls will be answered by professional call handlers trained in anti-doping. All information will be fed into the UK Anti-Doping Intelligence Unit and processed following the National Intelligence Model widely used by law enforcement.

Callers can remain anonymous and can rest assured that any information they share will not only be treated in confidence but be researched and investigated.

UK Anti-Doping Chief Executive, Andy Parkinson said “To protect our athletes we need to tackle the supply and trafficking of doping substances. The most effective way for us to do this is with the help of competitors, coaches and support personnel as they are the closest people to sport. We are urging people to come forward with any information on doping, no matter how insignificant they might feel it is. The smallest amount of information could be the missing link that enables us to take action and protect sport from those who want to cheat.”