WORLD SHUTTLFEBRUARY - APRIL 2016 / EDITION NO. 13 E BWF: ‘More IntellIgent’ AntBadminton World FederatIion-Dop has moved to ensure “OurIng APMU is able to scrutiniset estany of the player TheI IOCng is analysing some samples from the a more intelligence-based anti-doping programme, profiles that have a steroidal (urine) or haematological London 2012 Olympic Games. These samples recently signing an agreement with an Athlete Passport (blood) passport and make the relevant observations will have new scientific knowledge and analysis Management Unit (APMU). and recommendations. methods applied and this could see a change in the results and podium positions. This collaboration allows BWF to tap into cutting-edge “BWF has an obligation to protect the rights of clean athletes and this advancement in the fight against scientific knowledge from experts to better detect doping ensures a more intelligence-based anti-doping Given the ever-evolving fight against doping and biological markers in ABPs (Athlete Biological Passports) strategy to catch cheats in the sport.” new measures coming into effect, the BWF Secretary that could indicate possible doping by athletes. General acknowledged the need to educate players Since the implementation of the Steroidal Module further on this crucial matter. The move follows BWF’s implementation of its own (urine) in 2014, every urine sample collected has ABP programme where both blood and urine samples been analysed for the presence of steroids as part of “The collection of blood in and out of competition is are collected for individual athlete profiles. ABPs have an individual athlete’s profile. This information can be going to be a long-term, values-based programme, been used as a strategy to deter and detect doping used in combination with the Haematological Passport with the quality and level of testing conducted by the in endurance sports for quite some time. However, Module (blood) to build a clear picture of biological BWF becoming more intelligent-driven. We are looking passports are now common place in testing programmes profiles that could signal doping by individual athletes. to implement a long-term educational programme with the implementation of the new World Anti-Doping to cover multiple areas, including educating athletes Blood sample collection has become more common in Code (WADC) in January 2015. badminton – both in-competition at events and out-of- around blood collection,” said Lund. competition. Some National Anti-Doping Organisations Experts at the APMU – one of ten associated with World (NADOs) have an ABP for their national level athletes. BWF is collaborating with NADOs including UKAD Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratories – BWF collaborates closely with NADOs who have (UK), ADD (Denmark), JADA (Japan), KADA review the analyses of players’ ABPs (blood and urine) badminton athletes on their ABP. (Korea) and CHINADA (China) on sample collection provided by the WADA-accredited laboratory. If the strategies and with some, educational initiatives. experts discover anything suspicious, they will then Lund explained that while a “select number of athletes advise the BWF on testing strategies for that athlete. are part of the BWF’s Blood Passport Programme, “We have also been working closely with the there will be other times where players outside of the respective chairs of the Badminton and Para- The APMU has full access to analysis results from samples select programme will have their blood samples taken badminton Athletes’ Commissions, providing as collected and logged into WADAs online administration and analysed”. much information as possible and we will continue system. The APMU also receives notifications from There have been tremendous advances in the science to do so. They have direct contact with players and the administration system and if suspicious results are around the analysis of samples. Additionally, the we rely on them to support the dissemination of advised, then the APMU looks into the atypical analysis. storage of samples for later re-analysis is something information in particular through social media.” major-event organisers such as the International “Having an APMU on board is another step to make our Olympic Committee (IOC), as well as international * The fundamental principle of the Athlete anti-doping programme more robust and intelligence- federations are doing. Some suspicious samples are Biological Passport (ABP) is to monitor driven. It gives BWF access to a level of scientific stored for up to ten years so, that as science and new selected biological variables over time that knowledge which we did not have before and we can analysis tools are developed, these samples can be indirectly reveal the effects of doping rather than target individuals in a very scientific and intelligence- taken from storage and re-analysed at a future time if attempting to detect the doping substance or driven way,” said BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund. necessary. method itself. HIGHLIGHTS WHIFF OF EXCITING POSSIBILITIES (PAGES 5 & 6 ) 100 ‘SHUTTLE TIMES’ IN PANAMA (PAGE 9 ) KEY DATES 15-22 May TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals (Major Event), Kunshan 30 May-05 June BCA Indonesia Open (Superseries Premier), Jakarta 07-12 June XIAMENAIR Australian Badminton Open (Superseries), Sydney 28 June-03 July YONEX Open Chinese Taipei (Grand Prix Gold), Taipei olYMpICs In tHe AIr: Throughout the sporting world, the Olympic Games are on almost everyone’s 05-10 July YONEX US Open (Grand Prix Gold) El Monte, Los Angeles lips. The countdown is on to the Opening Ceremony for this summer’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Tokyo has another four years before it hosts the globe’s elite athletes but that city too is already counting down. In late April, the Tokyo 2020 emblems for the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games were unveiled; the latter being the first Paralympic Games in which badminton will be played. BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION www.bwfbadminton.com PAGE 2 Editorial Dear Colleagues and Friends We are in the midst of exciting times and the coming weeks and months will require much diligence, commitment and enthusiasm for the various tasks at hand. However, our global badminton community has already shown an admirable capacity to rise to challenges and furthermore to exceed expectations and I have all confidence we will be able to do so again. As example of our collective ability to achieve significant goals, I am buoyed by our recent celebration of 100 Shuttle Time implementations across the world in less than five years – a landmark which far supersedes our initial, four-year target of having Shuttle Time in 30 countries by the end of 2015. To quote BWF Development Director Ian Wright “it’s been a great ride” to have taken this grassroots programme for children from a pilot project in Tonga in late 2011 to its 100th milestone in the Central American nation of Panama in late February, this year. By continental confederation, the numbers of implementations have been as follows: Africa Poul-Erik Høyer (17); Asia (25); Europe (27); Oceania (8) and Pan Am (23). This includes partnerships with BWF President the International Olympic Committee at its Sport for Hope Centres in Haiti and Zambia – and more countries have joined the Shuttle Time family since then! Available in 17 languages, this development initiative has proven an incredible catalyst for sparking the youth’s passion for badminton. We could not have anticipated how well it would have been received and I wish to thank and commend all the teachers and tutors globally who trained to deliver Shuttle Time lessons to children in schools and communities. In addition, the support of our continental confederations, member associations and various benefactors has been pivotal. It is this kind of heart-warming success which assures me, that once we continue working together as a family, badminton will flourish even more. Immediately ahead of us we have one of our most prestigious events, the TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016 to be held in Kunshan, China, from 15-22 May. As is customary, we will stage our Annual General Meeting, Member’s Forum and related activities, including for the first time a Media Appreciation ceremony, alongside this BWF Major Event. A lot will be happening simultaneously and the world of badminton will be the centre of attention. It is another opportunity for us to shine; to be our best both on and off the court. Before that, however, our Olympic Qualification Period will end on 1 May and, after the year-long Race to Rio, we will know which players will compete for gold, silver and bronze in August. Having recently passed 100 days until the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony, we can truly say the countdown is on! Finally, I wish to draw attention to the BWF Strategic Plan 2016-2020 which has been circulated to our membership and is now available online (BWF Strategic Plan 2016-2020). May I ask all persons within the international badminton community to read and absorb our ambitions for the coming Olympic cycle. There are four Strategic Focuses at the heart of BWF’s work. These are: Capacity; Entertainment; Participation and Partnerships. Each is a key element in the further evolution of our sport in the fast-paced, competitive marketplace in which we operate. This Plan – our blueprint for the future – is athlete-centred. The BWF and its members have a major role in providing the best possible environments for athletes to realise their potential. In this regard, priority areas are: clean sport, fair play, awareness and education, and health and well-being. We will discuss the Strategic Plan in detail at the Member’s Forum in Kunshan and we look forward to the input from our membership as we move forward together. Poul-Erik Høyer BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION www.bwfbadminton.com PAGE 3 Simon Cruz Mondejar of Spain triumphed in SL 3 Men’s Singles.