New steps in the Anti-Doping work in fitness and recreational sport in Denmark Lone Hansen, Anti Doping Denmark www.antidoping.dk 1
How do we work with anti doping in the fitness area and in recreational sport in Denmark? Organisation and Legislation First steps New steps (2012 2013) www.antidoping.dk 2
The Danish Act on the Promotion of Doping-free Sport Main Danish sports organisations Outside the main Danish sports organisations WADA code The Nat. Olympic Committe and Sports Confederation The Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associations The Danish Federation for Company Sports DIF DGI DFIF Collaboration agreements with ADD in accordance with the WADA code Common antidoping regulations for recreational sports Recreational sport and Fitness members under DIF/DGI/DFIF Private and commercial gyms and fitness clubs Private or public institutions or companies with sports activities Associations and organisations outside DIF/DGI/DFIF Differ from the WADA code in -Suspensions and Sanctions www.antidoping.dk 3
Anti-doping outside organised sport (gyms etc.) The Danish Act on Promotion of Doping-free Sport (from 2005): Danish Anti-Doping Agency shall seek to enter into partnership agreements with exercise and fitness centres and other private or public institutions, companies etc., which offer sporting activities or related activities as well as sports associations and unions with no connection to the sports organisations Anti Doping Denmark may charge a contract fee for services pursuant to Section 11 of the Act. www.antidoping.dk 4
Fitness clubs and members in Denmark (2012) Gyms and fitness clubs in Denmark A total of app. 750 gyms and fitness clubs App. 450 commercial ones and 311 under the national sports federations Members A total of app. 700,000 members 540,000 of those are members of commercial gyms and fitness clubs 135,000 are members of gyms and fitness clubs under the sports associations 25,000 are members of physiotherapy centres www.antidoping.dk 5
Mandatory or voluntary? Gyms and fitness clubs in organised sport are obliged to carry out anti-doping work including doping control in reference to the Act on Promotion of Doping-Free Sport and the WADA Code. The Nat. Olympic Committe and Sports Confederation DIF Main Danish sports organisations WADA code The Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associations DGI The Danish act on the promotion of doping-free sport The Danish Federation for Company Sports DFIF Outside the main Danish sports organisations Collaboration agreements with ADD in accordance with the WADA code The commercial gyms and fitness clubs can choose whether to participate in doping control but are legally bound to clearly indicate by a smiley whether they cooperate with Anti Doping Denmark or not. Common antidoping regulations for recreational sports Recreational sport and Fitness members under DIF/DGI/DFIF Private and commercial fitness Centers (Gyms) Private or public institutions or companies with sports activities Associations and organisations not belonging to DIF/DGI/DFIF Differ from the WADA code in -Suspensions and Sanctions www.antidoping.dk 6
Gyms with a partnership agreement (2013) 311 gyms associated with DIF, DGI and DFIF has a mandatory anti doping agreement. 250 commercial gyms and fitness centers have a voluntary doping agreement with Anti Doping Denmark. More than 50 % of all commercial centers have a doping control agreement with Anti Doping Denmark, which is equivalent to approximately 80% of all members of commercial fitness centers. www.antidoping.dk 7
Increased focus on recreational doping in 2008 in Denmark www.antidoping.dk 8
Ministerial Action plan against Doping in Gyms 2008 A ministerial action plan to fight doping in gyms was adopted. The plan consists of three parts in a three year period from 2008-2010 Funds Support to a campaign against the use of AAS A Smiley Program Mandatory for gyms to show if they participate in doping control or not Legislation Increased sanctions for violation of Act on certain doping substances www.antidoping.dk 9
Funds Anti Doping Denmark initiated a campaign against the use of Anabolic Androgen steroids (AAS) Steroids are stronger than you www.antidoping.dk 10
Main focus of the campaign To provide general information about steroids to the primary target group of young men aged 15-25 and their support groups. To encourage the fitness industry to take ownership of the local antidoping work. To place the fitness doping issue on the agenda in the general public. www.antidoping.dk 11
The Smiley Program www.antidoping.dk 12
The Smiley Program which is required by law includes: 1. That it is mandatory for the Danish commercial gyms to show whether they have a doping control agreement with Anti Doping Denmark or not (from July 1 st 2008). 2. It shall be clearly marked at the entrance and on a possible website, whether their members are subject to doping control or not. "A gym is to be understood as a physically bounded training facility that is accessible to all. www.antidoping.dk 13
Smileys to be visible in the gym www.antidoping.dk 14
Legislation Increased sanctions for violation of Act on Certain Doping Substances www.antidoping.dk 15
Amendment of the Act in 2009 The Act concerning the Prohibition of Certain Doping Substances determines that any form of dealing with doping substances can be punished by up to two years imprisonment. Suspended sentences were common in the past but following the amendment of the Act in 2009, trade in doping substances must, as a general rule, be punished with imprisonment (without suspension). However no decisions have yet been made pursuant to the new Act. www.antidoping.dk 16
In 2012 the government launched 8 new steps in the fight of recreational doping 1. Reduced/simplified list of drugs for the commercial fitness centers 2. More free choice of laboratories 3. Exchange of information: Launch of doping register listing those who have a sanction 4. Common appeal possibility (increase legal security) 5. Separate partnership agreements with low risk centers 6. Flexible terms and partnership agreements with small centers 7. Improved information efforts targeted young people (prevention) 8. Considerations on financing the anti-doping work in the future www.antidoping.dk 17
In 2012 the government launched 8 new steps in the fight of recreational doping 1. Reduced/simplified list of drugs for the commercial fitness centers 2. More free choice of laboratories 3. Exchange of information: Launch of doping register listing those who have a sanction 4. Common appeal possibility (increase legal security) 5. Separate partnership agreements with low risk centers 6. Flexible terms and partnership agreements with small centers 7. Improved information efforts targeted young people (prevention) 8. Considerations on financing the anti-doping work in the future www.antidoping.dk 18
Thank you for your attention www.antidoping.dk 19
Mandatory vs. voluntary doping control Mandatory doping control Pro: Ensures that all centres are subject to doping control Con: - Possible safety risk to test personnel, - Difficulty in collecting the payment for the doping control. - If not all gyms implement sanctions following positive doping tests the doping control scheme would be undermined and lose its credibility. Voluntary doping control Pro: The voluntary involvement in the current smiley program is a positive key factor for the practical implementation of doping control at the centres. Con: The price for doping control prevents some, especially small, centres from concluding an agreement www.antidoping.dk 20