Annual Review 2020
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Annual Review 2020 Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Annual Review 2020 1 2020 Programme Highlights 41 9,046 Sample Successful searches Collection on the Eirpharm Personnel website re-accredited 1,045 108 Blood and urine samples Samples placed in collected from athletes long term storage Therapeutic Use Exemptions 18 approved by Sport Ireland 5,001 Completed the Anti-Doping E-Learning Course 18 Therapeutic Use Exemptions approved by Sport Ireland 2 Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Annual Review 20202019 Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Annual Review 2020 3 108 Samples placed in long term storage Contents Foreword 4 Introduction 5 Background Information 6 Global Clean Sport Advocacy 10 Athlete Voice 12 Clean Sport Education 14 Testing and Science 16 Medications and TUE’s 19 Anti-Doping Unit Operations 22 Appendices 24 Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Annual Review 2020 3 Foreword It is safe to say that 2020 will go down in history as a I am proud of the fact that Sport Ireland was part year like no other. of an eleven strong international working group of National Anti-Doping Organisations which developed While we expected to be reflecting back on the role of a Modifications to Sample Collection Protocols anti-doping in the preparation of athletes for the Tokyo for testing during the pandemic. These protocols Olympic & Paralympic Games and major domestic & were used as a foundation by WADA in relation international sport, that is not the case. to the development of their own protocols, which was outlined in their COVID-19: ADO Guidance for For much of 2020, our pitches, stadia, courts, arenas Resuming Testing document. This continues the and tracks lay idle, void of competition as the Covid-19 strong role Sport Ireland is playing as a leader in the pandemic swept its way across the world. international anti-doping arena. While the major tournaments and competitions faced There were 3 anti-doping rule violations announced for postponement or cancellation, there was a glimmer 2020, along with 4 other anti-doping rule violations of hope as training, and ultimately competition, was that were announced pending from 2019. allowed to resume in part. While it is always regrettable when any individual Despite the significant curtailment of sporting activity, commits an anti-doping rule violation, the numbers the importance of the fight against doping in sport do demonstrate that the testing system is working. was acknowledged by Government. The designation of Furthermore, each case is a valuable learning anti-doping activity as ‘essential’ allowed our sample experience for all athletes, coaches and administrators collection personnel to continue their important work alike. right around the country. In that regard, Sport Ireland continued to bolster its The imposition of restrictions meant the anti-doping education provision in 2020, despite the challenging staff needed to be responsive and innovative. The circumstances. In total, 6,544 athletes and athlete manner in which the Sport Ireland staff and sample support personnel were educated via face-to-face collection personnel reacted is to be commended, seminars (prior to the onset of the pandemic), online with 1,045 tests carried out across 27 different sports education sessions or via the Sport Ireland Anti-Doping as part of the testing programme. Naturally, in- e-learning site. This total is an increase on 2019 figures competition samples accounted for only 17%, with (6,445 ) notwithstanding the COVID-19 restrictions, out-of-competition samples making up 83% of the which is remarkable. national testing programme. I would like to thank all members of the Sport Ireland Anti-Doping unit for their Equally as important as education, is the continued exceptional efforts in 2020, working in much changed commitment to ensure that athletes are central in all conditions to protect the integrity of sport in Ireland. aspects of anti-doping. Sport Ireland’s commitment to this has been exemplified by the contributions made to the RESPECT research project in 2020. 4 Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Annual Review 2020 Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Annual Review 2020 5 The role of science and investigation are vital elements of the anti-doping process. The significant focus on both of these areas in 2020 will stand the programme in good stead heading into what we hope will be a year full of sporting activity. Partnership and collaboration has been to the forefront in anti-doping both at a national and international level. Here in Ireland we are lucky to have strong partners at statutory level as we work towards clean sport. In that regard, I would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). We were also delighted in 2020 to sign an MOU with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, which will assist joint working between the agencies including information sharing, particularly when there are overlapping interests or areas of mutual concern. This is my first Irish Anti-Doping Review as Chair of the Anti-Doping Committee and I would like to acknowledge the contribution of my predecessor, Caroline Murphy, to anti-doping in Ireland. Caroline has been an excellent leader and an outstanding advocate for clean sport. On behalf of Sport Ireland, I would like to thank Caroline and wish her well for the future. Finally, I would like to thank the Irish Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, Chaired by Michael Collins SC, for its work during a particularly busy 2020. I would also like to thank Prof. Sean Gaine and his fellow members of the Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (TUEC) for their contribution. Roger O’Connor Chairperson, Anti-Doping Committee Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Annual Review 2020 5 Introduction We are pleased to present the twenty-first annual It is unfortunate that, once again, events away from review of Sport Ireland Anti-Doping, covering the year the playing field have continued to blight the fight 2020. against doping in sport. There was a distinct sense of déjà vu as the matter of Russian compliance with This review provides comprehensive details of the the World Anti-Doping Code reared its head again at activities of the Irish Anti-Doping Programme in 2020, the back end of the year. What had already been a including the financial cost of the programme. In 2020, very difficult year for sport was further compounded the programme cost €1,904,381.61, with a total of by the news that the Court of Arbitration for Sport 1,045 blood and urine tests conducted in Ireland and had completely watered down the already weak overseas. sanctions imposed on Russia by WADA for their various transgressions. As evidenced elsewhere in this review, the global Covid-19 pandemic had a profound impact on our After an episode that had dragged on for years, Russia sport and on the anti-doping landscape. In March, received a virtual slap on the wrist that amounted to a sport came to a sudden standstill, with training and ban on a national anthem and a reduced sentence for competitions suspended indefinitely. It was absolutely bad behaviour. This behaviour included the wholescale crucial that the cessation of sport did not mean a manipulation of data after repeated attempts to let-up in a rigorous anti-doping programme. Working stall the progress of WADA’s investigations. Hardly a closely with our colleagues in the Department of worthy sanction for the greatest scandal to have hit Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, we international sport. were delighted to secure an exemption of anti-doping personnel to be classed as ‘essential workers’ within the We now face the prospect of Russian athletes Government regulations. competing in Russia, where they will compete in Russian colours and will compete with Russia across Furthermore, Sport Ireland implemented innovative their uniforms. In 2016, over 280 Russian athletes took and responsive systems and protocols to ensure that part in the Rio Olympic Games; potentially nearly 300 the testing of athletes could continue in a safe manner. athletes from countries that play by the rules could be As our elite athletes were allowed to resume training, it denied a spot in Tokyo Olympics next year, with many was welcome that Sport Ireland could continue to roll more potentially competing in the Paralympic Games. out an extensive testing programme. Is this fair? Throughout this period, we continued to work closely With our international colleagues, we continue to fight with our colleagues in the HPRA, Customs and An the case for stronger governance and oversight across Garda Síochána to remain vigilant and we look the global anti-doping system. Athletes worldwide forward to working with them and new partners in the need to have the confidence that they are competing Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland in 2021. on a fair, level and transparent playing field; and we support them fully. 6 Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Annual Review 2020 Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Annual Review 2020 7 As always, we wish to thank our athletes for their continued and unwavering cooperation throughout a difficult year for all in 2020. The manner in which Irish athletes have bought into the ethos of clean sport is to be commended. We would especially like to thank those athletes that continue to act as advocates and ambassadors for the ongoing testing, prevention and education programmes. We acknowledge that it is not always convenient, but the professional manner in which our athletes conducted themselves and adhered to protocols whenever there was a knock at the door is to be commended. Through what has been a challenging period, Sport Ireland would like to acknowledge the outstanding service provided by the Anti-Doping Unit provided in 2020, and continue to provide.