UK Sport has today announced that consultancy firm PMP will conduct an independent review into options for the future operation of the UK’s anti-doping programme. The review, initiated by UK Sport’s Reform Chair Sue Campbell, will provide recommendations on the optimum arrangements for the governance, structure and operation of the national anti-doping programme in the UK.

PMP, supported by expert advisers from Loughborough University and Anglia Polytechnic University, will undertake an intensive period of consultation with a wide range of stakeholders before producing a report for Campbell in March. This will then be presented to the Sports Cabinet when it meets on 20 April.

Sue Campbell said: ‘Part of my remit when I was appointed Reform Chair of UK Sport was to review the anti-doping function. We need to ensure it best serves the needs of British sport and the role of a national anti-doping organisation as set out in the World Anti-Doping Code.

‘The work conducted by UK Sport’s drug-free sport team to date is exemplary and has helped the UK develop one of the most comprehensive and respected testing programmes in the world. However, the development of the World Anti-Doping Code marks a watershed in the fight for drug-free sport and we need to make certain we are best placed to maintain and improve on this position.’

The review is one of a number being conducted during Campbell’s time at the helm of UK Sport. It follows calls from some sporting bodies and individuals for an independent anti-doping agency to be established in the UK. They are concerned about the potential conflict of interest in a funding body such as UK Sport also having responsibility for anti-doping.

‘We recognise that there are strong opinions on both sides of the fence,’ said Campbell. ‘Some people are more than happy with the current set up while others feel that the anti-doping function should become independent of UK Sport. It is therefore right for us to commission an independent review which can listen to these views and draw its own conclusions.

‘We go into the review with a completely open mind and look forward to receiving the recommendations from PMP in March. After discussing these with the Sports Cabinet we would then aim to implement agreed changes from the review by April 2005. In the meantime we will continue to work hard on the delivery of the UK’s anti-doping programme and the implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code.’

PMP will begin the review immediately and will be contacting key stakeholders over the coming weeks. To ensure that anyone within sport can input into the review, an e-mail address has been set up – dopingreview@pmpconsult.com – to which comments from all interested parties can be sent.

For more details contact:

Russell Langley
Communications
UK Sport
Tel: 020 7211 5108
Fax: 020 7211 5246
Mob: 07880 740772
www.uksport.gov.uk