British Rowing backs UK Anti-Doping Clean Sport Week
British Rowing is supporting UK Anti-Doping’s second Clean Sport Week, which launches today (Monday, 21 May).
The week aims to raise awareness about clean sport, celebrate the successes of clean athletes, and promote the work of the anti-doping community in the fight for clean sport.
This year’s campaign will have a strong focus on supplement use and image enhancing culture in the UK, with new research set to be revealed during the week to encourage a wider public debate on the issue.
Olympic and World Championship silver medallist Vicky Thornley said: “As a rower, I train hard and eat well to ensure I can perform at my best on the biggest stages, and I am proud to do so as a clean athlete. It’s important for all athletes to know the rules and their responsibilities, so together we can help keep sport clean.”
Andy Parkinson, CEO of British Rowing added: “We work hard, alongside UKAD, to educate and inform all rowers and support staff, at all levels and in all disciplines, of their clean sport responsibilities. We want everyone in rowing to be proud to train and compete clean. Clean Sport Week provides a great platform for rowing, and the wider sporting community, to come together to spread the message even further about the importance of clean sport.”
Since 2015, British Rowing have had 4,425 individuals attend a Clean Sport Workshop, half of which were in 2017 alone. 164 sessions have been delivered across schools, clubs, universities, colleges and webinars, as well as to our GB Rowing Team, who receive education on an annual basis. In addition, British Rowing regularly delivers outreach at rowing competitions in order to reach an even wider audiences and provide the opportunity for rowers, coaches and parents to come and ask any questions they may have.
Nicole Sapstead, UKAD’s Chief Executive, said: “Our education programme is a vital part of our prevention work at UKAD. We are committed to delivering a high-quality programme in collaboration with our partners.”
With a team of UKAD certified educators, British Rowing supports all rowers and their support personnel with advice and guidance, and welcome any requests for Clean Sport workshops to be delivered in clubs or schools. More information about our workshops can be found here.
A number of events will take place during Clean Sport Week to help raise awareness of clean sport and anti-doping programmes including an exclusive rowing Facebook Q&A on Thursday, 24 May from 7pm with British Rowing’s Anti-doping & Integrity Officer, Jacqui Traynor, alongside UKAD’s Head of Science and Medicine, Nick Wojek. If you have a questions you would like answered during this Q&A please email us.
