Meeting of EU Sports Directors
The meeting is held twice a year, during every Presidency of the Council of the EU and provides an opportunity to discuss the current challenges facing sport in the EU. This time the discussion focused on the implementation of the revised World Anti-Doping Code. The document came into force on 1 January 2015 and requires effective implementation. The debate was an opportunity to learn about the experience and key problems related to this process in the individual Member States. The main challenge is still the issue of the protection of personal data processed using the ADAMS computer software which enables full use of the Athlete Biological Passport application.
The Polish Commission Against Doping in Sport (the National Anti-Doping Organization - NADO) has adopted the recommendations of the World Anti-Doping Code. The effective implementation of those regulations requires their adoption by individual sports associations. A big challenge was also to establish, pursuant to the WADA recommendation, the institution of a disciplinary panel operating within NADO as a body competent to deal with doping cases. Given the fact that currently the only bodies empowered to deal with such cases are sports associations, it was necessary to develop a legal framework allowing to delegate those powers to the said disciplinary panel. It was also necessary to convince the associations to approve this solution. The final Polish version of the regulations was adopted in October 2014.
The participants of the meeting in Riga also discussed the problem of doping in recreational sport. Doping is primarily associated with high-performance sport and is often overlooked in the area of sport for all. Therefore, as argued by the representatives of the Member States, educational measures are required in order to build the awareness of risks related to the use of doping substances.
NADO, in the fight against doping in recreational sport, carries out primarily measures of educational character. Those activities are implemented in cooperation with sports associations. The educational measures are focused mainly on young athletes and are often carried out during sports competitions and at sports schools. Moreover, in Poland works are carried out on the development of a system for the safe testing of dietary supplements and certification of those that do not contain prohibited substances. The institution responsible for the testing works would be the Institute of Sport, an entity answerable to the Ministry of Sport and Tourism.
The Latvian Presidency also emphasized the growing significance of street sport which is becoming increasingly popular. With its potential to reach large groups of young people, street sport may not only serve as a tool for personal development of its participants, but also contribute to increasing social cohesion.