Cathy Belvedere the CEO of Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sports (BCDS) was asked a few questions by www.islandstats.com trying to help the public understand the role that the BCDS play.
Today we bring you Part Two of a Two part Interview with Belvedere.
Q. What are some of the sanctions individuals could face if they continue to take part in International Events without notifying their NSGB?
A. For the most part with the advance of compliance in most countries which includes International Federations setting rules and standards for their national federations, it is unlikely that someone will be permitted to represent a country without having been sanctioned by the national body responsible for that sport. These of course would be pretty high level events and where, possibly, the event is also sanctioned by the International Federation.
From the Domestic perspective, we are working with NSGB’s on an individual basis to determine which events would mandate the pre event testing. There are some events which are ‘invitational’s’ where individuals can pick up and go or if there is for instance a Marathon in a city or town where they are vacationing or on business, they can participate as they only representing themselves as an individual. There is some work still to be done in sorting out when someone needs to be identified as representing and which are purely recreational and “fun” events.
Q. With almost everyone compliant to the WADA rules, when can sportsmen and women expect to see Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sports officials attending events for random testing?
A. At the WADA level, we are already conducting Out of Competition screening, and have been since January of this year, which is where the Doping Control Officers show up where an athlete or a team of athletes is training. When we refer to random testing – that is the Domestic Random testing which, for now, we continue to call people into the office with short notice.
As a matter of interest, we have learned recently that other countries are now on board with a Domestic Illicit programme, Australia, the USA and Saudi Arabia to name a few. We have heard that other countries are also in the process of introducing a similar programme. It is apparent that many countries have now acknowledged that they do have a responsibility of sorts to protect their athletes from themselves. This is due to the enticement of illegal drug use sometimes reported on in the press by athletes who have reached some notoriety and have resources to purchase or find themselves in social environments where illegal drug use is the norm.
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