final report section 2 – executive summary€¦ · fitness against doping - final report -...

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FINALREPORT

SECTION2–EXECUTIVESUMMARY

ENGLISH

April2012

FitnessAgainstDoping-FinalReport-February2012 2

Page No. Contents

3 List of Abbreviations

4 2.1 Introduction and context

5 2.2 Aims of the Project

6 2.3 Background to Doping

8 2.4 Methodology

18 2.5 Report Recommendations

3 FitnessAgainstDoping–Section2–ExecutiveSummary-ENGLISH

List of Abbreviations

AAS-AndrogenicAnabolicSteroids

ADD-Anti-DopingDenmark

AGAP-AssociaçãodeEmpresasdeGinásioseAcademiasdePortugal(PortugueseFitnessAssociation)

DGEAC-DGEducationandCulture

EHFA-EuropeanHealthandFitnessAssociation

EMCDDA-EuropeanMonitoringCentreforDrugsandDrugAddiction

EREPS-EuropeanRegisterofExerciseProfessionals

ESPAD-EuropeanSchoolSurveyProjectonAlcoholandotherDrugs

FAD-FitnessAgainstDopingproject

FINADA-FinishAnti-DopingAssociation

IAAF-InternationalAmateurAthleticFederation

IDU-Intravenousdruguser

LERF-NationalFitnessCentreCertification

IOC-InternationalOlympicCommittee

NACE-NomenclaturedesActivitesEconomiques

NADA-NationalAnti-DopingAssociation

NCD-Noncommunicabledisease

NZVT-NederlandsZekerheidssysteemVoedingssupplementenTopsport

PIED-PerformanceandImageEnhancingDrug

UKA-UKAthleticsAuthority

UKAD-UnitedKingdomAnti-DopingAgency

UNESCO-UnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization

UNODC-UnitedNationsOfficeforDrugsandCrime

WADA-WorldAnti-DopingAgency

WHO-WorldHealthOrganisation

AgainstDopingProjectisgrant-aidedbytheEuropeanCommission.ThisreportrepresentstheviewsoftheauthorandnotoftheCommission.

FitnessAgainstDoping–Section2–ExecutiveSummary-ENGLISH 4

2.1 Introduction and context

TheEuropeanHealthandFitnesssectoriscomprisedofmorethan40,000healthandfitnesscentresservicinganestimated44mregularusers,andmanymoreinformalparticipants.Physicalinactivityisnowidentifiedasthefourthleadingriskfactorforglobalmortality.PhysicalinactivitylevelsarerisingacrossEuropewithmajorimplicationsfortheprevalenceofnon-communicablediseases(NCDs)andthegeneralhealthofthepopulationworldwide.1ThelevelsofphysicalinactivitythroughoutEuropeareestimatedtocause600,000deathsandalossof5.3millionyearsofhealthylifeduetoearlymortalityanddisabilityeveryyear.2

InrecentyearstheEuropeanCommissionandotherstakeholdershavebeguntoconsidertheuseofdopingsubstanceswithin“amateursport”andinfitness,andseveralsourceshavestatedthat“dopingsubstancesareprevalentwithinthefitnesssector”.Althoughtheevidencebasefromwhichthesestatementsaredevelopedisfiercelydebated,theycanbedamagingandprecludepolicymakersfromcapitalisingonthesizeandscopeofthefitnesssectors.

Akeyroleforthehealthandfitnesssectoristopromotehealth-enhancingphysicalactivity.ThesectorisakeyplayerindeliveringtheEUGuidelinesonPhysicalActivity3andtheWorldHealthOrganisationGlobalRecommendationsonPhysicalActivityforHealth4,whichhavecalleduponallnationalgovernmentstodevelopstrategiestoencouragehigherlevelsofphysicalactivity.

DatafromtheEuropeanCommissioncommissionedEurobarometersurveyonSportandPhysicalActivityshowsthatroughlytwothirdsofEuropeanadultsdo

1 WorldHealthOrganisation,‘Globalrecommendationsonphysicalactivityforhealth’,WorldHealthOrganisation,2010.http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241599979_eng.pdf[accessed28January2011]

2 WorldHealthOrganisationEurope,‘PhysicalActivityandHealthinEurope:evidenceforaction’WorldHealthOrganisation’edsN.Cavill,S.Kahlmeier&F.Racioppi,(2006)pp.5

3 EUGuidelinesonPhysicalActivity2009-http://ec.europa.eu/sport/news/eu-physical-activity-guidelines_en.htm.

4 WHOGlobalRecommendationsonPhysicalActivityforHealth(2010)-http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_recommendations/en/index.html

notreachrecommendedlevelsofphysicalactivity–with34%ofrespondentssayingthattheyseldomorneverdophysicalexercise,5whilstonly34%ofyoungpeoplemeettherecommendations.6Ofthe87%ofrespondentsthatclaimedtoparticipateinsomeformofphysicalactivity,11%ofthesedidsowithinafitnesscentre,andalthoughuptohalfofrespondentswerenotmembersofanyformofsportsorfitnesscentre,itwasfoundthatphysicalactivitydoestakeplaceinawiderangeofformalandinformalsettingsacrosstheEU.Thereportobservedthattheusageoffitnesscentresandsportscentresisdeterminedlargelybytheiravailability(linkedtourbanpopulation)andthedisposableincomesofcitizensinthedifferentmemberstates.7

Arelativelyhighlevelofrespondentsattributedtheirparticipationinphysicalactivitytoadesiretoimprovetheirphysicalappearance,(24%EU-wide)improvephysicalperformance(24%EUWide)orcontroltheirweight(24%EUwide)asopposedtoalternativeresponsessuchas“tobewithfriends”“toimproveself-esteem”,“todevelopnewskills”“torelax”or“tohavefun”.Themostcommonresponseswere“toimprovehealth”(61%)and“toimprovefitness”(41%).Thepresenceofvariousdifferentmotivatingfactorsforparticipatinginphysicalactivityisindicativeofthevariedandsignificantbenefitswhichcanbeaccruedfromexercise.

InrecentyearstheEuropeanCommissionandotherstakeholdershavebeguntoconsidertheuseofdopingsubstanceswithin“amateursport”andinfitness,andseveralsourceshavestatedthat“dopingsubstancesareprevalentwithinthefitnesssector”.Althoughtheevidencebasefromwhichthesestatementsaredevelopedisfiercelydebated,theycanbedamagingandprecludepolicymakersfromcapitalisingonthesizeandscopeofthefitnesssectors.

5 SjostromMetal.,‘HealthenhancingphysicalactivityacrossEuropeanUnioncountries:theEurobarometerStudy’,JournalofPublicHealth,14(2006)1-10.

6 Ibid.7 EUSpecialEurobarometerSurvey72.3,‘SportsandPhysicalActivity’(DirectorateGeneralEducationandCulture,2010)


Alackofdialoguewiththefitnesssectorfromanti-dopingagenciesandotherexpertgroupshasraisedconcernthattheseunfoundedandgeneralisedcommentsareencouragingtheviewthatdopingpracticesareprevalentwithinthefitnesssector.Forinstancearecentreportintosteroidusewasprefacedwiththeclaimthat“useofAnabolicAndrogenicSteroids(AAS)andothersimilardopingsubstancesisasubstantialprobleminEurope”.8Theevidencebaseforthisisweakandthefindingsinthisrepresentativeresearchprojectareinconsistentwiththatstatement.

Thecoreserviceandobjectiveofthehealthandfitnesssectoristoimprovethehealthandwellbeingofitsusersandtheunsubstantiatedperceptionofadopingculturewithinthesectoris,therefore,inconsistentwithitsultimategoal.

Furthermore,thesestatementsposeaninherentriskthattheEuropeanfitnesssector’sabilitytodevelopandintegrateintootherhealthcarepolicies,strategiesandthepromotionofhealthenhancingphysicalactivity,willbestuntedandpotentiallyjeopardisediftheseperceptionsarenotaddressed.

Therefore,theEuropeanHealthandFitnessAssociationhasundertakenprimaryresearchintotheprevalenceofdopingwithinthefitnesssector,andisnowbuildingastrategytofurtherprofessionalisethesector’sresponsetoanti-dopingpractices.

Thisprojectisindicativeofthesector’scontinuedstrivingtoprofessionaliseitselfandthedesiretomovefurthertowardsaholisticapproachtohealthandwellbeingandestablishapositionofcorporatesocialresponsibility.

2.2 Aims of the Project

InOctober2010theCommissioncalledforproposalsinthePreparatoryActionintheFieldofSport(EAC/22/10)inthe“FightAgainstDoping”.TheprojectapplicationsubmittedbyEHFAwassuccessfulandresultedinanagreementwiththe

8 AntiDopingDenmark“StrategyforStoppingSteroids”,p7.

Commission(EAC-2010-1283)fortheFitnessAgainstDoping(FAD)projectwhichstartedinJanuary2011.

ThecontextoftheprojectwasemphasisedbytheEUCommunicationonSportinJanuary2011whichstatedthat

“Dopingremainsanimportantthreattosport.Useofdopingsubstancesbyamateurathletesposesseriouspublichealthhazardsandcallsforpreventiveaction,includinginfitnesscentres.DopingpreventionanddopingsanctionsremainwithintheremitofsportorganisationsandMemberStates.ItencouragesMemberStatestoadoptandsharenationalanti-dopingactionplansaimedatensuringcoordinationamongallrelevantactors.Thereisaneedforanti-dopingrulesandpracticestocomplywithEUlawinrespectingfundamentalrightsandprinciples.EncouragestheexistingtrendacrossEUMemberStatestointroducecriminallawprovisionsagainsttradeindopingsubstances.”

TheCommunicationwentonsaythatitwill“supporttransnationalanti-dopingnetworks,includingnetworksfocusingonpreventivemeasurestargetingamateursport,sportforallandfitness.”9

TheprojectworkedtodevelopacoordinatedEuropeanstrategytolimittheuseofdopingsubstancesinthefitnesssector.Therewere10partners,covering9countries,intheprojectplusEHFA.Theprojectwasdividedintofourmainactivities:

• Researchintoexistingevidenceofdopingpracticesinamateursportandfitness

• Fieldresearchbythepartnersintodopingpracticeswithintheircountries

• Reportingonfindingsandconsultation• Developinginterventionstrategiestoeffect

reductionsinanydopingpractices

TheFitnessAgainstDoping(FAD)project’scoreaimwas,forthefirsttime,toidentifythetrueprevalenceofdopingwithinthesectorandtoformaprofessionalandstructuredresponsetothe

9 DevelopingtheEuropeanDimensioninSportCOM(2011)12final


findings.Itisintegraltothecontinuedsuccessanddevelopmentofthefitnesssectorthatitprovesitselftobetransparent,andtorespondtoanyallegationswhichhavebeenlevelledagainstit.

TheWhitePaperonSportrecognisesthatdopingposesathreattosportandcallsonsportorganisations“todeveloprulesofgoodpracticetoensurethatyoungsportsmenandsportswomenarebetterinformedandeducatedintheissuesofdopingsubstances,prescriptionmedicineswhichmaycontainthem,andtheirhealthimplications”.10

Previousanti-dopingresearchandinternationalregulationhasfocusedonelitesport,butitissuggestedthatamateursarealsomakinguseofperformance-enhancingdrugsandthisisaconcerntothefitnessindustry.TheEUAnti-DopingConference2009statedthatinregardstodopingthereisnodifferencebetweenprofessionalsportandanyotheramateursportandsothefitnessindustryneedstorisetothechallengeandtodealwiththisissue11.

TheConferenceacknowledgedthatdopingisnotjustaproblemexclusivelyforsportinunderminingprinciplesoffairandopencompetition,butisalsoamatterofpublicconcernbecauseofthedetrimentaleffectthatdopinghasonthelong-termhealthoftheusers.Thisresearchprojecthashelpedtofillthegapinresearchandunderstandingarounddopinginthefitnessindustryandhasprovidedadvice,informationandstrategiesforfutureactiontomitigateanddealwiththeproblem.

Recognisingthatthefightagainstdopingrequiredacoordinatedtransnationalresponse,theprojectestablishedanetworkofpartnersacrossEuropeandwithotherinternationalorganisationsthathaveexperienceandknowledgeinthisfield.ThePolishInstituteofSportAnti-DopingResearchCentreasaWADAagency,wastaskedtodevelopthemethodologytobeusedfortheprimaryresearch.

Theresultsofthesurveyhaveprovidedthe

10 WhitePaperonSport-COM(2007)391final

11 EUConferenceonAnti-DopingOrganisedbytheEuropeanCommissionAthens,Greece,13–15May2009http://ec.europa.eu/sport/news/doc/athens_conf_conclusions_final_version_en.pdf

evidencebaseforfuturetargetedinterventionswithintheindustryandwillstartanetworkofbestpracticetofurtherthefightagainstdoping.Theinternationalpartnersoftheproject(ISCAandICCE)providedexamplesandevidenceofeffectiveanti-dopingpracticesandpoliciesusedinsport,includingseveralwithinfitnesswhichcouldbeadaptedforuse..

Therecommendationsforwherebetterinterventionsandpracticeinanti-dopingcanbemadeareaddressedtothreemainaudiences:

- TheEuropeanCommission- MemberStategovernments&agencies- Europeanfitnesssector

2.3 Background to Doping

2.3.1Historyandcontextofdopinginelitesport

Dopinginelitesporthasalonghistory;in1928theInternationalAmateurAthleticFederation(IAAF)becamethefirstInternationalSportFederationtobantheuseofdoping,whichwasthendefinedasstimulatingsubstances.12Duringthe1930smanyothersportingfederationsundertooksimilarmeasureshoweverrestrictionsremainedineffective.

MostInternationalFederationshadintroduceddrugtestingbythe1970s,neverthelesstheuseofanabolicsteroidswasbecomingwidespread,especiallyinstrengthevents,asatthattimetherewasnowayofdetectingthem.13Areliabletestmethodwasfinallyintroducedin1974andtheInternationalOlympicCommittee(IOC)addedanabolicsteroidstoitslistofprohibitedsubstancesin1976,whichresultedinamarkedincreaseinthenumberofdrugdisqualificationsinthelate1970s,notablyinstrengthrelatedsportssuchasthrowingeventsandweightlifting.14In1998theWorldAnti-DopingAgencyWADAwasformed.Itdescribesitselfasa“uniquehybridorganizationthatisgoverned

12 J.Woodhouse&M.Dilworth,DrugsinSport,HouseofCommonsLibrary,15September2010

13 Ibid14 WorldAnti–DopingAgency,ABriefHistoryofAnti-Doping,WADA,2011.http://www.wada-ama.org/en/About-WADA/History/A-Brief-History-of-Anti-Doping/[accessed15.4.11]


andfundedequallybythesports(Olympic)movementandgovernments”.15TheframeworkforWADA’sactivitiesisprovidedbytheWorldAnti-DopingCodewhichfirstcameintoeffectinJanuary2004.

Nationalsportsorganisationsaremembersofthecorrespondinginternationalsportsfederationorumbrellaorganisation,andareexpectedtomaintaintheiranti-dopingregulationsinlinewiththoseoftheinternationalsportsfederation.Forthemajorityofthesefederations,dopingregulationsissuedbygovernmentsandtheWorldAnti-DopingAgency(WADA)definepolicy.

Despitethisimpressiveinfrastructureforanti-dopingpracticewithinelitesport,therearemanycriticsofthecurrentdopingsystem.UNIGlobalUnionrecentlystatedthatthereisapaucityofpubliclyavailablestatisticalevidencetosupportcurrentpoliciesandpracticesondrugtestingprogrammesforathletes.16ThesamereportcitesthelackofstandardisedreportingbytheNationalAnti-DopingAuthoritiesasoneoftheprinciplefailingsofthesystem.17

TheUKAthleticsAuthority(UKA)suggeststhatwhilea“comprehensivetestingprogramme”playsafundamentalroleasadeterrentandpreventativemeasureagainstdoping,UKAacknowledgesthatfurtherworkmustbeundertakentoprovideathleteswiththeinformationandtechnicaladvicetheyneedtomakeinformedandresponsiblechoicesincompliancewiththeUKA’s(ADregulations).Theneedforeducationisespeciallytruewhenattemptingtopromotetheappropriateuseofsupplements.IssuesrelatingtosupplementshavelongbeenhandledbytheWADA,in2004theyanalysed634productsfromstandardretailchannelsin13differentcountriesforthepresenceofsteroidsorpro-hormones(whichthebodywillmetaboliseintosteroids).Outofthe634productsanalysed,

15 Ibid.16 W.Palmer.S.Taylor,A.Wingate,‘AdverseAnalyzing:AEuropeanStudyofAnti-DopingOrganisationReportingPracticesandtheEfficacyofDrugTestingAthletes’,UNIGlobalUnion,May122011.

17 Ibid.

15%werefoundtobecontaminatedwithsteroids/pro-hormones.However,despitetheeffortsoftheWorldAnti-DopingAgencythedistributionofsupplementsishardtoregulateduetotheobviousanddiversedistributionchannelsprovidedbytheinternet.Contentandqualitycannotalwaysbeeasilyascertainedanditseemsthatmanyaredeliberatelyorinadvertentlyadulterated.

Thelabellingofsuchpreparationsdoesnotalwaysreflecttheiractualcontentandsoplatitudessuchas“alwaysreadthelabel”nolongerapply.Inonestudy,brandsofover-the-counterandrogenic-anabolicsupplementsdidnotcomplywithlabellingrequirements,infactoneproductcontained77%moresteroidcontentthanthelabelstatedandanothercontained10mgundeclaredtestosterone18.Aseparateanalysisof75supplementspurchasedovertheinternetfoundthat7containedundeclaredhormonesand2containedephedrineandcaffeine19.ThemostcompellingevidenceisfromastudycommissionedbytheInternationalOlympicCommittee(IOC),94outof634“legalsupplements”purchasedin13countriescontainedbannedsubstances;64containingtestosterone,23nandroloneand7steroidhormones20.

2.3.2Dopinginfitnessandamateursport

‘Unorganised’or‘amateur’sportandfitnessdoesnotcurrentlyhaveasimilarinfrastructureforharmoniseddopingcontrolsuchasthatwhichexistsineliteandcompetitivesportduetoanumberofreasons.

Firstly,wheredopinginorganised(professional)sportisprimarilyfocusedonimprovingathleticperformance,theuseofdopinginunorganisedsportsmaybeduetoadesiretoobtainamuscularandslimphysique.21TheDutchHealthCouncilstatesthatthisisespeciallytrueoffitnessactivities,

18 GreenGA,CatlinDH,StarcevicB.Analysisofover-the-counterdietarysupplements.ClinJSportsMed2001;11:254-9

19 KamberM,BaumeN,SaugyMetal.Nutritionalsupplementsasasourceforpositivedopingcases.IntJSportNutrExercMetab2001;11:258-63

20 SchanzerWNewresultsconcerningcontaminationofnutritionalsupplementswithbannedanabolicandrogenicsteroids.SymposiumonDrugsandSport:IssuesandPerspectives.RSCandUKSport.Manchester2002

21 J.AKnottnerus,PresentationofadvisoryreportDopinginunorganisedsports,HealthCounciloftheNetherlands,April132010.


whilstseveralsourcesstatethatfitnessandstrengthtrainingarenotsportinatraditionalsense,butratherthatthe“purposeoftakingpartintheseactivitiesisnottocompetebuttotrainandstayfit”.22Bothofthesesourcesdemonstratethatthedesiredoutcomeoffitnessactivitiesdonotoftenrelatetogainingacompetitiveedgebutinsteadrelatemoretopersonalhealth,andattimesphysicalappearance.ProfessorAskVestChristiansenconsistentlyarguesthatitisincorrecttointegratefitnessactivitiesandelitesportunderthesameumbrella,andwhilsttheanti-dopinginfrastructureinelitesportisdesignedtoachievesportingfairplay,anti-dopingcampaignsinafitnessenvironmenthavetheobjectiveofsecuringthehealthoftheexercisers.Secondly,asaresultoftheunclearnatureofdrugusewithinthefitnesssectorandunorganisedsportenvironments,thereisnowidelyagreedprotocolforhandlingtheissue.Incontrastwithelitesports,theprimarytaskofreducingdopinguseinunorganisedsportslieswiththegovernment;23astheCommissionre-statedinitsJanuary2011Communication(asanupdateontheWhitePaperonSport),“Doping prevention and doping sanctions remain within the remit of sport organisations and Member States”.Thisdistinctionisbecausenationalgovernmentsretainresponsibilityforpublichealthservices,andcurrentlyanti-dopingfallsintothisareaofduty.Althoughthepossibleuseofsubstancessuchasanabolicsteroidsisgenerallyregardedasapublichealthproblem,cultural,educationalandpoliticaldifferencesmeantherearemanydifferentapproachestoaddressingtheissue.

Finally,thereislimitedclarityovertheaimofthedopinginterventionstrategies.MuchoftheresearchandstrategiesintothisareahavepreviouslyfocusedontheuseandprevalenceofAndrogenicAnabolicSteroids(AAS),definedas,“A group of synthetic hormones that promote the storage of protein and the growth of tissue, sometimes used by athletes

22 A.VCristiansen,’Dopinginfitnessandstrengthtrainingenvironments–politics,motivesandmasculinity’,inEliteSport,DopingandPublicHealth,edsV.Moller,M.McNamee,andP.Dimeo,UniversityPressofSouthernDenmark,2004.


to increase muscle size and strength”.24Therehasbeenlimitedresearchintotheprevalenceofotherformsofdopingsuchasamphetamines,ephedrine,andpseudoephedrine(stimulantsordecongestantsthatcanproduceincreasedwakefulnessandfocusinassociationwithlossofappetiteorfatigue).Therefore,whilstwithinelitesport,theanti-dopinginfrastructureiscommittedtoreducingtheprevalenceoftheWADAlistofbannedsubstances;thereisnoagreementofthesubstancestobetestedwithinthefitnesssector.

ThelackoftangibleresearchisexemplifiedbytheStrategy for Stopping Steroids25inwhich,likemostoftheresearchinthisarea,predominantlyfocussesonlyonsteroidsandonlyonyoungmen.Thereportclaimsto“adoptacomprehensiveview”butinfactisnotrepresentativeofallofthedifferentagegroupswhichutilisefitnessfacilities.Bearinginmindthepeoplebeingtestedareusuallyidentifiedbytheclubsasbeing“suspicious”(i.e.huge,muscle-boundbody-builders)thepicturepresentedinthisreportcannotbesaidtorobustlyrepresentatruereflectionoftheprevalenceofdopinginfitnessandamateursport.

ResearchinDenmarkaspartoftheStrategyforStoppingSteroidscombineddatafromAASuserswhoarecurrentlytaking,previouslytookthemandthosewho“mightconsider”usingthem.ThiscontrastswiththeFADmethodologywhichcollecteddataonthosewhoaretakingsubstances.

TheFADprojectfoundthattherewasonlylimiteddataregardingtheprevalenceofdopinginunorganisedsportandinparticularregardingthefitnesssectorandthatthereisasignificantgapintheresearchwithregardstothelevelsofdopinginunorganisedsportandfitness.Thiswouldappeartobeinconsistentwiththeapparentperceptionofthefitnesssectorbeinglinkedwithdopingandtheuseofperformance-enhancingsubstances.

24 D.J.Hall&C.Judkins,‘SupplementsandBannedSubstanceContamination:Offeringaninformedchoice”HFLSportScience,2010

25 PreparatoryActionintheFieldofSportproject-http://www.antidoping.dk/da/Aktuelt/2012/3/~/media/antidoping_dk/filer/Undersoegelser/Strategy_for_Stopping_Steroids_Report_WEB.ashx


2.4 Methodology

Theprojectwasfocusedon5workpackages:

2.4.1WorkPackage1-ProjectManagement,QualityControlandExternalEvaluation

Theobjectiveofthisworkprogrammewastoensurethattheprojectmetitsobjectiveswithinbudgetandthescheduledtimescalesandthattherewasadequatereportingandmonitoringofperformanceagainstprojectoutcomes.

2.4.2WorkPackage2-ProjectCommunication,Website,DisseminationandValorisationStrategy

TheaimofthisworkpackagewastowidentheimpactoftheprojectacrossEuropebyeffectivelydisseminatingandexploitingtheoutcomes.

Theprojectwasdisseminatedthroughtherespectivepartners’communicationschannelsandatseveralhighprofileevents,mostnotablyattheBrusselsSummitinNovember2011andatthefinal“Anti-DopingConference”inFebruary2012.

InadditiontothewidearrayofeventsacrossEuropewhereFADwaspresented,EHFAandtheprojectpartnersissuedpressreleasesandpublishedarticleswhichhighlightedthekeyfindings,andalsomadeuseoftheprojectwebsitewheretheinterimreportwasmadeavailable.

Consultationwascreatedonthewebsitewhichaskedrespondentstogivetheircommentsontheproject,thefindingsandthepotentialrecommendationstobeimplementedincludingthecreationofaFitnessAgainstDopingCharterforallEHFApartnerstosignuptoanddisseminate.

2.4.3WorkPackage3-ResearchonAnti-DopingPolicies

TheResearchonAnti-Dopingpoliciesworkpackagewasdividedintothefollowingparts:

• Identificationofkeyprojectstakeholders

ThekeystakeholderswereidentifiedbytheEHFA

researchteamandtheprojectpartnersasbeingtheleadnationalcontactpointsinthefieldofanti-dopingregulations,theleadnationalcontactpointsforanti-dopinginsportsandthoseinternationalandEuropeanlevelorganisationswithaninterestinanti-dopingmatters.

• Currentsituationanalysis

Anti-doping

Itwasrapidlyfoundduringtheinitialstagesoftheresearchonpoliciesthatanti-dopingandlawenforcementdiffersfromcountrytocountry.Furthermore,whilstthereisagrowinglevelofinter-governmentandinter-sportcooperationsuchasWADA,theWADACode,UNESCO,InternationalConventioninAnti-DopinginSport,andCouncilofEuropeAnti-DopingConvention,thereislittleinformationoractivityintheareaofamateursportandfitnessintheapplicationoflawenforcementoreducationprogrammes.

Thedesk-basedresearchundertakenassessedthefollowinginordertogetthemostcompletefindingsintermsofthecurrentanti-dopingsituationacrossEurope:

• GlobalandEuropeangovernmentalandofficialsourcesforinformationonpoliciesrelatingtoDopingwithinthehealthandfitnesssector

• Dopingprosecutionstatisticstoassesstheprevalenceofdopingviolations.

• Inter-governmentalbodiesandotherofficialinternationalsourcesforinformationonpoliciesrelatingtodopingwithintheEuropeanHealthandFitnesssector.

• NationalandinternationalspecialisttradepressforinformationonpoliciesandresearchrelatingtodopingwithintheEuropeanHealthandFitnessSector.

• Websitesofnationalandinternationaltradeassociationsforpoliciesrelatingtodopingandpotentialroleofthehealthandfitnesssector.

• ReportsproducedbyCSRteamsofmajormanufacturers,distributors,suppliers,andtrainingprovidersinthehealthandfitnesssectorandotherrelevantsectorsfortheirviewsonpoliciesrelatingtoanti-doping.


• National,transnational,andinternationalanti-dopingregulationagenciesforinformationforpoliciesorresearchrelatingtodopingwithintheEuropeanHealthandFitnessSector.

• Financial,businessandmainstreampressforopinionsondopingandthepotentialroleofthehealthandfitnesssector

Thedesk-basedresearchcoveredallofEurope,andbelowisashortenedsummaryofthefindings,includingafocusonfourofthepartnerorganisationswhichwereusedascasestudies–Denmark,Germany,theUKandtheNetherlands,togetherwithsomeotherreferences:

Denmark

InDenmarkitisillegalto,“manufacture,import,export,sell,distributeorpossesswiththeexceptionofuseforthepreventionortreatmentofdiseasesorforscientificpurposesAndrogenicAnabolicSteroids(AAS)”.26TheobjectiveofthelawistopreventtheuseofAASfordopingpurposes.

RegardingtheuseofAASinfitnesscentres,whichconsequentlyisillegal,thereisatwoprongedapproach,whichconsistspartlyoftestingandcontrolandpartlyofinformationandeducationalcampaigns.AuniquefeatureoftheDanishanti-dopingeffort,comparedwiththatofothercountries,is,thatsince2005Anti-DopingDenmark(ADD),theorganisationresponsiblefortestingdopingamongeliteathletes,hasbeenrequiredbytheDanishGovernmenttocarryouttestsinfitnesscentresandhealthclubsthathavesigneduptoanationalanti-dopingscheme.

Fitnesscentrespayapproximately12,000Kroner(approx.1,400€)ayeartobepartofthescheme.Theythenreceiveastickerwitha‘smilingface’reading‘We test for doping in collaboration with Anti-Doping Denmark’,whichtheyarerequiredtodisplayontheentrancedoor.Gymsthatdonosignupforthetestingschemereceiveastickerwitha‘sadface’reading,“We do not test for doping in collaboration with Anti-Doping Denmark”,which

26 Retsinformation,retsinformation.dk(1999),‘Lovomforbudmodvissedopingmidler,Lovnr.232af21.april1999’,(Lawonthebamofcertaindopingdrugs,Lawno.232of21April1999).

theyarealsorequiredbylawtomakevisibletotheircustomerattheentrance.Thereforealthoughtheschemeisnotmandatorysignificantpoliticalpressureexiststoencouragegymstosignup.

InJune2010,50%ofallcommercialgymsinDenmarkwerepartofthescheme,embracingapproximately80%ofDanishgymmembers27(550,000members).ForthosecentresthatpaytheannualtestingfeeinspectorsfromADDwillnormallyvisitthecentretwiceayeartocarryoutdopingtestsontwosubjectspervisit.In2008507testswereconductedand111individuals(22%)testedpositive.28However,itisimportanttonotethatthetestingistargetedtowards‘suspiciousindividuals’,andthereforenogeneralpopulationprojectionsshouldbemadefromthesefigures.Anumberofotherfitnesscentreuserswerealsobannedbecausetheyrefusedadopingtest.

WhenauseristestedpositiveduringtheADDvisit(orrefusestobetested),heorsheisimmediatelyexcludedfromthecentreinquestion.However,sinceitisillegaltostoreinformationonrecreationalathleteswithdrugstestsinacommondatabase,individualsarethereforefreetosignupasamemberofanothergym.TheADDiscurrentlylobbyingforthispolicytobechanged,whichwouldinturnmakeitdifficultfortheindividualtocarryontraining.

Alongwiththedopingtests,Denmarkhasalsousededucationalcampaignsandsupportservicesandananonymouscounsellingsystemaccessibleviatheinternetandatelephoneservicewhichreceivedover1398queriesoveran18monthperiod.Almost

27 A.VChristiansen,‘Bodilyviolations:Testingcitizenstrainingrecreationallyingyms’,Doping,2010

28 Anti-DopingDenmark,2009,http://www.steroids.dk/da/Dopingkontrol/Kontrolstatistik.aspx[accessed17.5.11]


allquestions(94%)thatwerepostedbyindividualstrainingingymswerefrommaleenquirieswhile6%werefromfemales.Thethreemostcommonperformanceandimageenhancingdrugs(PIEDs)wereAAS(34%),creatineandorprotein(22%),andotherdietarysubstancesin16%ofinstances.OftheindividualsenquiringregardingAAS,61%originatedfrompeopletrainingingyms

Germany

InGermany20,000individualsare“caught”asillegaldrugoffenderseveryyear29,whilstitisestimatedthat37.6%ofpersonsaged18-39havetakendrugsatsomestage.Additionally2-3%ofpupilsandstudentsinGermanyhavealifetimeexperiencewithprescriptionstimulantsforcognitiveenhancement.30

InasmallsamplesurveytheprevalenceofillegaldrugsinGermanfitnessandleisurefacilitieswasreportedtobeashighas15.9%.31Aseparatequestionnaireinthesamefitnessenvironment,whichwasdirectedat‘suspiciousindividuals,reportedthat41.3%individualsuseillegaldrugs.

ThereareanumberofGermansupplementmanufacturerswhohavequalitycontroltestingperformedontheirproductsinordertore-assureathletesthattheyarenotcontaminated.TheproductsaretestedforanumberofsteroidsandoccasionallyforstimulantsatalaboratoryinCologne.32

WithintheGermanfitnesssectortheleadingtradeassociation(DSSV)stronglyadvocatesananti-dopingpolicytoitsmembersandhasdevelopedaneducationalprogrammefortrainersandathletesinwhichthedangersofdopingsubstancesarehighlighted.

29 Krausetal,‘KurzberichtEpiemiologischerSuchtsurvey:Tabellenband:TrendsderPravlenzdeskonsumsillegalerDrogennachAlter1980-2009’,[accessedonline26.5.11]http://www.ift.de/index.php?id=410

30 Frankeetal,‘Non-medicaluseofprescriptionstimulantsandillicituseofstimulantsforcognitiveenhancementinpupilsandstudentsinGermany’2011,inPharmacopsychiatry44:60-6.

31 P.Simonetal,‘DopingimFitness-Sport:EineAnalysezwischenDunkelfeldundsozialerKontrolle.,2008,Baden-Baden,Nomos2008.

32 Productsarelistedonthewebsitehttp://www.koelnerliste.com.

UnitedKingdom

IntheUKthereisanestablishedgovernancestructurewithinelitesportwherebynationalgoverningbodiesofsport,suchasUKAthletics,promotetheworkofregulatorybodiessuchasUKAnti-DopingandWADA.33

Itisestimatedthat200,000usersintheUKtakesteroidsfornon-medicalpurposesi.e.toenhancetheirappearanceorstrength.34ThefirstnationwideAASsurveyintheUKsurveyed21gymsthroughoutBritainandfoundthat8%ofrespondentsadmittedhavingtakenAASatsometime,5%ofwhicharecurrentusers.35Aseparatesurveyof100AAS-usingathleteswasconductedinthreeSouthWalescounties,reportinghighratesofpolypharmacy(80%)withawiderangeofotherdrugsamongsttheirsample.

WithregardstoAAS,theUnitedKingdomisoftenstatedasadoptinga‘harmreduction’strategy,relyinguponeducationandawarenesscampaigns.TheHomeOfficeclassifyAASasaClassCdrug.Thismakesitanoffencetosupplythedrugbutdoesnotmakeitanoffencetopossessorusethempersonally.Asaresulttherehasbeenanincreaseininternetsaleschannels,wherecompaniesbasedinlocationsoutsideoftheEUcansellAASlegallytoindividualswithintheUK.

Suchsaleschannelsoperatelegallybecausepossessionwithoutprescriptionisnotillegalanditisalsonotillegaltoimportsteroidsaslongastheyareforpersonaluse.However,possessionorimportingwithintenttosupplyisillegal,andcarriesuptofiveyearsimprisonment.Itwasfoundthatthis‘soft’legislativeapproachhasnotresultedinincreasedlevelsofAASuseacrossthepopulationincomparisontocountrieswithmorepunitivelegislationsuchasDenmark.

33 J.SBaker,M.RGraham,B.Davies,‘Steroidandprescriptionmedicineabuseinthehealthandfitnesscommunity:Aregionalstudy’2006,EuropeanJournalofInternalMedicine17,479-484.

34 D.J.Hall&C.Judkins,‘SupplementsandBannedSubstanceContamination:Offeringaninformedchoice”HFLSportScience,2010

35 P.Korkia&G.VStimson,‘AnabolicSteroidUseinGreatBritain:anExploratoryInvestigation’,1993,London:TheCentreforResearchonDrugsandHealthBehaviour.


Netherlands

Incontrastwithanumberofcountrieswherelegislationexiststhatcriminalisesdoping,theNetherlandshasnospecificnationallegislationregardingdoping.In2008theDutchMinisterofHealth,WelfareandSportrequestedtheHealthCounciloftheNetherlandstoinvestigatethenatureandseverityofdopinguseinunorganisedsports,particularlywithregardtotheharmfuleffectsonhealthbothshort-termandlong-term,theimplicationsofhighriskdrugsintermsofhealthrisk,diseaseburdenandcareconsumption,andtomakerecommendationsregardingthesetopics.36

Thereviewstatedthatwithinunorganisedsportsdopingisusednotonlytoimproveperformancebutalsotoenhanceaslim,muscularphysique.Withinthereportthecouncildefinedunorganisedsportas,“anyformofrecreationalsportingactivitynotorganisedbyregularsportsorganisations”,fitnesswasconsideredthemostcommonsportperformedinthiscontext,whilstthemajorityofthissportingactivitytakesplaceingymsandfitnesscentres37.

IntheNetherlandsabout2millionpeopleengageinunorganisedsports,andvariousstudieshavebeenperformedintotheprevalenceofdopinguseinunorganisedsports.Mostrecently,theDopingAuthority,Dopingautoriteit,requestedthatanewstudyintotheprevalenceofdopinginunorganisedsportsbeundertaken.38Thestudywasperformedamongvisitorstofitnesscentresaged15andolder,92fitnesscentresand718individualsparticipatedinthestudy.Intermsofabsolutefigures,thefindingsindicatedthat160,000peoplehaduseddopingin2008.

Thepreventionprogramme‘EigenKracht’(TrueStrength)developedbytheAnti-DopingAuthorityin2004focusesspecificallyonathletesinfitnesscentresandgyms.Fitnessentrepreneurs,gymownersandinstructorsareakeyintermediatetarget

36 HealthCounciloftheNetherlands.Dopinginunorganisedsports.TheHague:HealthCounciloftheNetherlands,2010;publicationno2010/03.

37 Ibid38 Stubbeetal.Performance-enhancingdrugsbyathletesvisitingDutchfitnesscentres.Dopingautoriteit/TNO,Capellea/dIJssel,2009.

groupofthecampaignwhichsimplyaimstopreventorreducetheuseofdopingbyathletesinfitnesscentresandgyms.39

Thefitnesssectorhasalsodevelopedananti-dopingstrategywherebythesectortradeassociation,Fit!vak,requiresallmemberstobecertifiedbytheNationalFitnessCentreCertification(LERF)AmongotherthingsthisregulationsetsrequirementsintheareaofdopingRegardinguseofnutritionalsupplements,someeliteathletesintheNetherlandscontinuetousetheseandrefertoanationalprogramcalledtheNederlands Zekerheidssysteem Voedingssupplementen Topsport (NZVT)whichallowsuserstolookforproductsthathavebeentestedforsteroidsandstimulants.40ProductsthataresigneduptothisservicecandisplaytheNZVTlogo.TheoperatorsoftheNZVTprogramalsocollaboratewiththeoperatorsofthetestingprogramInformed-SportintheUK.

OthernationaldopingstrategiesemployedinEurope

Anti-dopingstrategiesinPortugalhaverecentlybeenadjustedtoconformtotheprinciplesoftheWADAcode.ThePortugeseFitnessAssociationAssociaçãodeEmpresasdeGinásioseAcademiasdePortugal(AGAP)hasincludedanti-dopingaspartoftheirCodeofConductforfitnesscentres,inorderto“prohibitriskyactivitiestothephysicalintegrityofpractitionersandthesaleofharmfulproductstothehealthofclients”.Intermsofaregulatoryapproach,fitnessfacilitiesinPortugalaresubjecttoadecree-law(n.271/2009article16)whichprohibitsandrecommendationorsaleoranysubstancesormethodsthatareprohibitedunderPortugueselaw.


40 See(http://antidoping.nl/nzvt/zvt)


ThenewlyoperationalBulgarianAnti-DopingCentreisyettoestablishananti-dopingstrategyaimedatamateursportspeople,astherearecurrentlynolegalgroundsfortheCentretoengageinanactivecampaignagainstdopingpracticesamongamateurathletesorgeneralcitizens.

TheSTADprogrammeinStockholm,Swedencombinesresearchandinterventionstovulnerablepeopleanduserscoveringalcoholabuse,useofnarcoticsandsteroidsinaholisticapproach41.Nationallythereareanestimated10,000AASusersinSweden.

AlthoughFinlandisnotapartnercountrytothisstudy,ithasdevelopedananti-dopingstrategyaimedatamateurathletesintheformofaninternet-basedservicewhichprovidesinformationandadviceondopingissues.“Doinglinkki”,whichisfundedbytheFinnishgovernment,aimstopromoteawarenessofdopingissuesandhelpreducethehealthhazardrelatingtodopingsubstancesandtheiruse.TheservicewaslaunchedincooperationwiththeFinnishAnti-DopingAgencyFINADA.TheFinnishSportsforAllAssociationalsohaveacertificationsystemdesignedtopromotecooperationonanti-dopinginrecreationalsportsalongsocialresponsibilitylines.220gymshavesignedthecertificateacrossFinland.

Anti-DopingNorwayhasrecentlydevelopedanewanti-dopingprogrammefocusedonpromotingadoping-freetrainingenvironmentthroughanemphasisonthepositivevaluesfromtrainingandphysicalactivity.“Cleancentres”identifya“clearandunambiguouscommitmenttoadopingfreetrainingenvironment”,andpromoteawarenessofthisamongmembers.Thereareinternet-basededucationprogrammesdesignedtoeducatestaffonhowtocommunicatehealthyvaluesandthephysical,mentalandsocialsideeffectsofdoping.Anti-dopingstrategiesinNorwayalsohaveanelementofmonitoringandpolicing.

RecreationalDrugUse

Despitethecurrentlackofconcisefiguresanddata

41 STAD,StockholmPreventsAlcoholandDrugProblemshttp://stad.org/en/

availableontheprevalenceofdopinginamateursportsandthefitnesssector,oneareainwhichconsiderableresearchhasbeenconductedonaregularbasisisin“recreationaldoping”.

AgenciessuchastheEuropeanMonitoringCentreforDrugsandDrugAddiction(EMCDDA)andTheUnitedNationsOfficeforDrugsandCrime(UNODC)providereliabledatadrawnfromrepresentativesurveysontheuseandmisuseofarangeoflegalandillegalsubstancesatnational,regionalandgloballevels,allowingforcomparativeanalysis.

TheprevalenceofrecreationaldruguseacrossEuropewasidentifiedasanareaofinterestforthepurposesofthisstudyinordertoascertainwhetherculturalandnationalattitudestowardsrecreationaldrugs,nationalpreventionstrategies,anddrugpolicyhaveanimpactontheprevalenceofdopingintheamateursportsandfitnesssectors.Itwillalsobepossibletoexaminehowconsistentnationalandlocalauthoritieshavebeenindevelopingstrategiestotackletheseparateproblemsofrecreationaldruguseanddopingineliteandamateursport.

TheEuropeanSchoolSurveyProjectonAlcoholandotherDrugs(ESPAD),acollaborativeeffortofindependentresearchteamsinEurope,currentlyformsthelargestcross-nationalresearchprojectonadolescentsubstanceuseintheworld.Trendsinrecreationaldruguseareofparticularinteresttothisstudyasyoungpeople(andinparticularyoungmales)arebelievedtobeamongthemostprevalentusersofPIEDs,includinganabolicsteroidsandstimulantsaswellasrecreationaldrugs.

AlthoughdatacollatedbytheUNODC,ESPADandtheEMCDDAhaveledtosomeprogressinstandardisedresearchmethodsrelatingtorecreationaldruguseinEuropeandelsewhere,issueswithqualityanddepthofresearch,particularlyallowingforcross-nationalcomparison,stillexistastheydoforresearchintodopinginthefitnesssector.Thisisgenerallyduetoalackofco-ordinationbetweenagencies,anddifferentmethodsbeingemployedinthesurveyprocess.

ThefullresultsoftheresearchontherecreationaluseofdrugsinEuropearepresentedinthemain


report.

• Interpretationandpresentationofdesk-basedresearchfindings

Followingthedesk-basedresearch,theprojectteamproducedaseriesofinterimreportsfordiscussionandscrutinywithinthefitnesssectorandwithotherexperts.

2.4.4WorkPackage4-DevelopingtheroleofthehealthandfitnesssectorinAnti-Doping

Theprojectmanagementteamandthenetworkofprojectpartnersagreedthatacombinationofquantitativeandqualitativeresearchusingthemethodologyofdeskandfieldworkwouldgiveresultstoprovidetheevidencebaseforpotentialfuturetargetedinterventionswithinthesectorandtostartanetworkofbestpracticetofurtherthefightagainstdoping.

Theresultsofthedesk-basedresearch,demonstratedthatwhilsttherewereevidentlypoliciesandstrategiesinplaceinsomeMemberStates,therewasalsoalackofclarityinmanycountriesastothelevelofdopingintheunorganisedsportsandfitnesssectors.Itwasthereforeimportantforthefieldresearchtocentrespecificallyonthehealthandfitnesssectortounderstandthecurrentlevelofdopingpracticewithinfitnesscentres.Itisalsoapparentthattherehasnotbeenresearchwhichcanclaimtobetrulyrepresentativeofthesectoranditsusers.Theexistingresearchandtheensuingstrategiestodealwithanti-dopinghaveinvariablyfocussedonlyonsteroidsandonlyonyoungmen.ItwasthereforeimportanttoemphasisethattheFADprojecttakesacomprehensiveapproachtotheresearchincludingtheuseofrecreationaldrugs,foodsupplementsaswellasperformanceofimageenhancingsubstances.Thedemographicsofthoseparticipatinginthestudyarealsomorerepresentativeofthesectorasawhole.

DefinitionofaFitnessCentre

Beforethefieldresearchcouldcommenceitwasnecessarytoconsideradefinitionoffitness–or

moreparticularlyafitnesscentre.Asthesectorhasdevelopedandmovedfromtheold-stylefree-weighttrainingroomsforbodybuildingandweight/powerliftingintomodern,complexfitnesscentreswithavastrangeofcardiovascularandstrengthtrainingequipment,swimmingpools,racquetsportsandwellnessareastherehasclearlybeenashiftinthedefinitionofwhatisnowtobeconsidereda“fitnesscentre”.

Whilstitisrecognisedthatthereisnowaclearerdistinctionbetweenhardcorebody-building“gyms”whichareaboutphysiquedevelopment,andfitnesscentres,whichareaboutphysicalactivityandhealthpromotiontheperceptionofmanypeopleisthatbody-buildinggymsarestillallpartofthesamesectorandEHFAacceptedthispremisefortheFADproject.Thefulldescriptionanddefinitionisinthefinalreport.

Consultation and design of field research methodology

Throughdiscussionswiththeprojectteam,thepartnernetwork,andwiththeassistanceofexpertpartnerorganisationsitwasdecidedthatthemostaccurateandrevelatorymethodtoascertainthecurrentlevelsofdopinginEuropewouldbethroughsurveysaimedat:

• Consumersoffitnesscentrefacilities• Exerciseprofessionalsbasedwithinfitness

centres• Ownersandmanagersoffitnesscentres

WiththeassistanceoftheDepartmentofAnti-DopingResearchofInstituteofSportinPoland(aWADAAgency),HFLSportScienceintheUK(nowownedbyLGC),andLeisure-netSolutionswiththeUniversityofHertfordshire(UK),thescopeandcontentofthesurveyswereagreedbythepartners.Expectationsandtargetswereestablishedforthenumberofsurveyreturnsrequiredandthethreesurveyswerethensentfordesign.

ThesurveycontentwasdevelopedinJune2011andthentranslatedintotheninelanguagesofthepartnersandintwoversions.Thefirstwasforcontrolledaccessthroughtheinternetandthe


secondversionforaface-to-facesetting.Eachpartnerengagedtheservicesofanindependentresearchcompanytooverseeobjectivityandindependence.

Threecountries–Germany,NetherlandsandtheUK–wereselectedtoundertakesomeadditionalface-to-faceinterviewingtocheckforanybiasintheresultsofthemain,web-survey.

BetweenJulyandAugust2011,thecomprehensivesurveywascompletedwithover10,300consumers,exerciseprofessionalsandclub/facilitymanagersfromnineEuropeancountriescontributing–andbecamethelargestsurveyofitskindtodate.Aswellasgatheringdemographics,thesurveyfocusedonthreeparticularareas:PIEDs(PerformanceandImageEnhancingDrugs),societal-baseddrugs(oftencalledrecreationaldrugs),andfoodsupplements.

Throughouttheprocessofdesigningtheprimaryresearchmethodologythepartnerorganisationswerekeptupdatedofprogressandconsultedtoensurethatwithinthetimeconstraintsoftheprojectthemosteffectivesurveyresultswereproduced.

Thefieldresearchfindings

Surveyreturnswerereviewedandany“spoilt”papersweredeletedfromthedatabase.Whenthemainsurveyendedon12thSeptember2011therewere:

• 8,238consumerreplies• 1,850exerciseprofessionalreplies• 261manager/ownerreplies

Totalrepliesof10,349.Thesurveyswerekeptentirelyconfidentialwithnofurthertrackingorreportingtotheindividualparticipants.Thethreesurveys(forconsumers,exerciseprofessionalsandmanagers)eachtookadifferentviewonthequestionssurroundingdopingpracticestogivea“360degree”view.

TheFitnessAgainstDopingsurveyaskedquestionsaboutthelocationoftheirfitnesscentre,theirfitnessregimes,thetypeoffitnessfacilityandtheir

mainreasonsforfitnesstraining(thequestionnairesareincludedwithinthefinalreport).Italsoaskedthemtoidentifyiftheyplayedothersports,andifsowhich.Thisprovidedthecontextandenvironmentorcontextualreasonsfortheuseofdopingproductsandindicatedtowardsevidenceofexternalinfluencingfactorsintheuseofbannedsubstances.

Thekeyresultsofthestudy,whicharestatisticallysignificantintheirnumbersarelistedbelowandshowthattheperceptionofthefitnesssectorbeingrifefortheuseofdrugsisnotsubstantiatedasonly1.23%ofrespondentsrepliedthattheyhadusedperformanceorimageenhancingproductswhichwerebannedorillegal,andafurther1.85%repliedthattheywereusingrecreationaldrugs–andatotalof2.52%ofthosetakingbannedandrecreationalsubstancesassomerespondentsrepliedpositivelytobothcategoriesofdruguse.ThisdemonstratesthatdopinguseinfitnessisanexceptionacrossEuroperatherthanbeingcommonpractice.SetagainsttheuseofrecreationaldrugacrossEurope,fitnesscentreconsumerswerefoundtobelesslikelytousedrugs.

Thisdoesnothowevermeanthatthesurveydidnothighlightareaswhichneedtobeaddressedtoensurethattheprevalenceofdruguseinfitnesscentresdoesnotgrow.Indeed,itisclearthatwhilsttheuseofdrugsinfitnesscentresisnotcommonplace,thisdoesnotmeanthatthesectorshouldnotaimtoeradicatedrugusealtogetherwithinfitnesscentres.

Afulleranalysisoftheresultsareinthemainreportbrokendownbycountry,age,gender,regularityofattendanceatafitnesscentreandsizeoffitnesscentrefrequented.Thesearesomeofthe“headline”findings:

Consumers

• Anoverall2.52%ofallrespondentsrepliedthattheyuseperformanceandimage-enhancingsubstances(2%reportingtakingbannedsubstancesand0.5%recreationaldrugs).

• 27.70%ofcustomersreportedusingafoodsupplement.Thisincludedelectrolytedrinksandtheirusewasthemostpopularofall


supplementsasanaidtorehydration.

28.37%

46.73%

37.66%

43.80%

0.00%5.00%

10.00%15.00%20.00%25.00%30.00%35.00%40.00%45.00%50.00%

To help reduce weight

To help rehydrate To improve endurance

To increase muscle

Why Use Food Supplements

%

• InthemorenorthernEuropeancountries,thepercentageofrespondentsusingperformanceandimageenhancingsubstanceswasevenlower(DK2.10%,NL1.81%andUK1.61%).InHungary,BulgariaandPortugaltheirindividualresultswere9.13%,12.6%and4.2%respectivelyasthehighestusers.ThismaybeanindicationofincreasedprevalenceinthelessdevelopedfitnessandamateursportsectorsacrossEurope.

• Respondentscouldidentifyanumberofsubstances,andthemostpopularwereanabolicsteroids,stimulantssuchasamphetaminesand“othersubstances”suchasdiuretics–almostinequalmeasure.

• Maleusersoffitnesscentresaremuchmorelikelytotakebannedsubstancesandrecreationaldrugsthanwomenparticipants.

• Theage“peak”fortheuseofsubstancesisthegroupof25-49yearoldsandnotthe15-24groupwhichhasbecomethe“target”insomepreviousresearch.

33.17%

16.83%19.23%

11.54%

7.21%

32.69% 32.21%

6.73% 5.77%

19.23%

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

Which Enhancing Substances by Posi ve Respondents

%

• Theuseofrecreationaldrugsbyfitnesscustomersisverymuchlowerthanthegeneralpopulationstatisticsofusagetakenfromthe

EuropeanMonitoringCentreforDrugsandDrugAddiction.

37.67%33.80%

41.00%

12.47%8.59%

20.50%

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

40.00%

45.00%

To lose weight

To improve your physical

condi�on

To increase muscle

growth and body shape

To achieve a par�cular

goal

To aid faster healing of an

injury

To extend period of

�me to spend on training

Why Use Enhancing Substance by Posi�ve Respondents

%

• 37.16%ofrespondentsreportedthattheyplayedanothersport.Ofthe208respondentsreportingthattheytakeaperformance-enhancingsubstance41.82%ofthemwereingroupwhoplayanothersport.Thisstartstoindicateapossiblelinkthattoimproveanindividual’samateursportperformanceandcompetitivenessthatfitnesscentresareusedfortheirstrengthandconditioningtraining.

22.99% 28.74%

14.94%

11.49% 18.39%

2.30

%

18.39%

11.49%

0.00

%

1.15

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00%5.00%10.00%15.00%20.00%25.00%30.00%35.00%

Which Sports - Those Taking Substances

%

ExerciseProfessionals

• Thereisawarenessthatsubstancescanimproveperformanceandachievements,butamajorityofclientsdonotaskforadviceandabigmajorityofexerciseprofessionalswouldnotgiveadvice.


9.84%

47.91%

13.49%

23.49%

5.27%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

Hard to say Never Rather Not Yes, occasionally Yes, o�en

Have You No�ced Substance Use

%

• Thereisawarenessofsomedopingactivityinfitnesscentresfollowingthesamepatternofconsumerresults,thehighestlevelsreportedwereinHungary,BulgariaandPortugal.

• Despiteawarenessthatdopingcanimproveperformanceonlyjustover3%ofexerciseprofessionalsreportedthattheytookanyformofsubstancethemselves.

71.92%

24.61%

3.48%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

Yes, definitely Perhaps Definitely not

Are You Prepared To Support A Campaign On An�-Doping

%

Managers/Owners

• 27%reportedthattheywereawareoftheuseofperformanceenhancingsubstanceswhichwasconsistentwiththereportingfromexerciseprofessionals.

• 69%sellfoodsupplementsattheirfitnesscentre,andamajoritychecktoseeiftherearecertifiedtobeclearofbannedsubstances,butasignificantminorityofmorethan12%wereunawareordidnotcheck.34%ofconsumerspurchasetheirfoodsupplementsattheirfitnesscentreandthesamepercentagethroughtheinternet.

• Justoverhalfoftherespondentssaidtheyalreadyoperatedananti-dopingpolicywiththehighestinDenmarkandtheNetherlandsandthelowestinGermany,Hungary,SwitzerlandandtheUK.

• Asubstantialmajority(over80%)reportedthattheywouldbepreparedtosupportananti-

dopingcampaign,buttherewaslessclarityonwhetherdirectanti-dopingtestinginfitnesscentreswouldbeagoodthingwithonly32%respondingthattheythoughtitwouldbeagoodthing.

Researchreportandconsultation

Thefindingsfromthefieldresearchwerecollatedandsharedwithalltheprojectpartnersandthemanagementgroupforfeedbackandconsultation.

ThedisseminationoftheresultswasundertakencentrallybyEHFAthroughitswebsite,theproductionofaninterimreport,andbyeachprojectpartnerthroughtheirnationalandlocalchannels.Afullbreakdownofthedisseminationactivitiesisincludedinthemainreportbutwecanmentionherethattheprojectwaspublicisedthroughtheuseofpressreleases,magazineandnewspaperarticlesandpresentationsatfitnessindustryeventsacrossEurope.

TheinterimreportcompiledbyEHFAincludedasummaryoftheresultsanddraftrecommendationstomultiplyandsolidifythefightagainstdopingwhichwerepresentedtotheEHFAFitnessForuminBrusselsonNovember8th.ThisincludedtheunveilingofTheEuropeanFitnessSectorAnti-DopingCharterwhichformedpartoftheresponsetothefindings.Thepresentationwasmadetoanaudienceofover120delegatesfrom23differentcountrieswhichincludedtheHeadoftheSportUnitofDGEACMichalKrejzaandhisseniorpolicyofficerSuzanneHollman.

Followingthepresentation,awebsitelinktotheEHFAwebsitewasmadeincludingadownloadversionofthereportandaholdingstatement.Inordertodeveloptherecommendationscomingfromtheresearchfindings,theprojectteamfeltitimportanttowidenthescopeofthefeedbackfurther.Aconsultationwaspublishedalongsidetheinterimreportaskingthefollowingquestionstoanyhealth,fitnessandexerciseprofessionalorstakeholderwhowishedtocontribute:

• Doyou“recognise”thefindingsasbeingareasonablesummaryofdopinginthefitness


sector?• Arethereareasofresearchorquestionswhich

aremissingandwhichwouldhelptogivebetterevidence?

• Isitfairthatsomemedia,politiciansandothers“pick”onfitnessinregardtodopingwhennoresearchhasbeendoneinotheramateursports?

• Doyouthinkthateducationalprogramsarebetterthanphysicalinvolvementsuchasnationalanti-dopingofficerstestinginourfitnesscentre(assomeNordiccountries)?

• Ifwecarryoutourproposedinterventions–doyouthinktheywillmakeadifference–orwillpeoplecontinuetotakedopingsubstancesanyway?

• Doyousupportthebettertrainingofexerciseprofessionalstounderstanddopingpracticesandimprovethemorepositivepromotionoffitnesstrainingina“trueway”?

• Shouldwehaveacharter–the“headline”manifestostatementthatwestandtogetherandagainstdoping?

• DoyouagreewithourCharter?

Theconsultationreceivedasignificantnumberofresponsesandhelpedtoshapetherecommendationsmadeinthisreporttofurtherpromoteanti-dopinginthefitnesssector.RespondentsweredrawntotheconsultationthroughEHFAandthenationalpartners’disseminationactivitieswithlinkstothewebsitebeingpostedatevents,onpressreleasesandinmagazineandtradepressarticles.

Followingthefeedback,theprojectteamandnationalpartnerorganisationsamendedtherecommendationsandresponsestrategy

2.4.5WorkPackage5-DevelopingtheroleofthehealthandfitnesssectorinAnti-Doping

Theobjectiveofthisworkpackagewastoensurethattheinterventionmeasuresinthisreport,aimedateducatingallhealthandfitnessstakeholdersofthedangersofdrugsanderadicatingtheirusageinthesector,areimplementedinasustainablemannerandmonitoredtoensuretheirefficacy.Theprojectmanagementteamusedthebehaviour

changeexperts,Scintillate,inordertoidentifyinterventionswhichwouldnotbemerelypunitivebutwouldhavealastingimpactontheattitudesandbehaviourstowardsdopinginthehealth,fitnessandunorganisedsportsectors.

Asmentionedearlier,theenforcement/punitiveapproachtowardsanti-dopinginfitnessdoesnotappeartoworkasthereisnotrackingofthosethathavetestedpositivetoseewhetheranysanction(usuallyatalocalorclublevel)hasthedesiredeffectofdrivingdowntheprevalenceofdoping.InterestinglytheStrategyforStoppingSteroidsprojectrecommendationsdonotincludethephysicaltestingofconsumersinfitnesscentres.Therefore,therecommendationsbelowstartfromthepointthattochallengethecomparativelysmalllevelofdopinginfitness,attitudesandbehavioursmustbechangedattheexpenseofpunitivemeasures.Itisalsoclearthatinordertodosothereneedstobearoundedandholisticapproachtotheissue,asnosinglerecommendationorinterventionwouldhavethedesiredeffectonitsown.

Despitelackofevidenceofwidespreaddopingpracticeonthequalitativelevelofsubstanceintaketheproblemmaybedescribedasfollows:

Theuseofperformanceenhancingdrugsandsubstancesisnotonlyillegalandunethical,butalsopotentiallyharmful.Substancesmaycausepsychologicaleffectslikeeuphoria,hyper-alertness,emotionalhypersensitivity,stress,anger.Theymayhavedetrimentalphysicalhealtheffectssuchasanincreasedriskofarteriosclerosis,heartattackorliverdamage.Forthepurposeofanti-dopinginterventionstwomainproductcategoriescanbedistinguished:

Bannedsubstances(directintake):amphetamines,anabolicsteroids(AAS),pro-hormones

Foodsupplements(indirectintake):maycontain• bannedsubstanceswithoutdeclarationon

packaging• higherlevelsofpotentiallyharmfulsubstances

thanindicatedonpackaging


2.5 Report Recommendations

Thereporthasfiverecommendationsforactionforitsthreekeyaudiences:

• TheEuropeanCommission• MemberStateGovernments• TheEuropeanFitnesssector(includingexercise

professionals,consumersandmanagers/owners)

2.5.1Developtargetedandintegratedcampaigns&policies

Campaignsandpoliciespromotingtheresponsibleuseoffoodsupplements,exposingthedrugswhicharebannedandillegal,andmakingclearthedangerstopersonalhealthfromdrugusageshouldbeimplementedonapan-Europeanandatnationallevelsandbeaimedatconsumers,professionals,manufacturersanddistributors.

Who TheEuropeanCommission MemberStateGovernments TheEuropeanFitnessSector

Thefindingsdemonstratedthatthelevelofuseofanabolicsteroids(AAS)fallswithincountrieswherethefitnesssectorismoredevelopedandwherethereisanobjectiveofdeliveringhealthandwell-beingservicesalongsidestrengthandcardio-vasculartraining,ratherthanjustolder-stylegymsforbodybuildingorweightlifting.EffortsneedtobemadeandsupportshouldbeofferedtothoseMemberStateswhohavelessdevelopedfitnesssectorstoensurethatdopingdoesnotbecomecommonplaceduetoalackofexposuretothedangersandrealitiesofdruguse.

Campaignsshouldadoptamoreintegratedandholisticapproach.Indeed,withonly2.5%ofconsumerrespondentsconfirmingintheFADsurveythattheytakeasubstancesuchasanabolicsteroids,thereseemstobeadisproportionatelevelofresourcescurrentlybeingappliedintryingtoeradicatethisoneactivity.Thefocusoftheiruseispredominatelywithmen(butnotnecessarilyadolescents/youngmales)andthattheyaremoreengagedwithstrengthtrainingthanfitnesstraining.

Thereisnoevidencethatpunitiveapproachesdeteranyonefromtakingbannedsubstancesormakethosethatdoconsiderchangingtheirbehaviour.A‘softer’approachaimedatchangingattitudesandbehaviouristhereforeconsideredtobeamoreeffectiveapproachinreachingthosethateithertakebannedsubstancescurrentlyorwhowouldconsidertakingthem.

Therefore,andtakingintoaccountthecomplexityofthemarketsystemwithdifferentlevelsofinteractionanddifferinginterestsbetweenplayers,thereportrecommendsaholistic,rounded,approachtoencourageandpromotebehaviourchange.Thisincludesinterventionsaimingatchangeonthestructurallevel,i.e.influencingthechoiceofproductsavailableandrecommendedtoconsumers,aswellasinterventionsaimingdirectlyatbehaviourchangeontheindividuallevel,i.e.voluntarychoiceofsubstancefreeproducts.

Inordertodosoitwillbecrucialtogetintothedifferentchannelsofthesystemofinteraction,i.e.distributionchannels,interactionpatternsbetweenvendorsandcustomers.Actionsinvolvingplayerssuchasthemanufacturersandthoseinretailanddistribution,needtobeintegratedinthesetofinterventionsinawaytomakeuseoftheirinterdependenciesandinfluenceonconsumptionpatternsofthetargetaudience.Itisthereforearecommendedstrategytomaketheseplayersbecomepartnersofajointactionagainstdopinginthefitnesssector.UsingtheEHFAplatformwillbekeytoreachinggroupswithinfitnessnetworksbutalsototargetthosewhichfalloutsidebutcanstillbeinfluencedandreachedbyEHFA.

Demonstratingpersonalcommitmentopenly,usingrolemodeleffectsandcreatingpeer(socialnorm)effects,isanotherrecommendedstrategyforinterventionsattheleveloffitnesscentresaimingatinteractionpatternsbetweencustomers,instructorsandmanagers.

Publicopinionisastrongtoolandwherethepossibleacquisitionofanegativereputationisapotentialriskitshouldbeaddressedthroughinterventionsbyclearandtargetedcommunicationofmessages.Thisshouldbeusedasastrong


elementinpersuadingindependentmarketplayerstojoinacampaignaswellasinpositioningthefitnesssectorasapromoterofmassactivityandhealthybehaviour.Atthesametimecommunication-basedinterventionsneedtofocusonthebehaviouralmessagetoconsumers.

TheproposedinterventionsmustmeettheneedsofEuropeancountrieswhichhavedifferentcultures,languages,economicandpoliticalsystems,andforsomewhereinterventionsandpoliciesarealreadyinplace.A“oneforall”optionisunlikelytoworkinpractice.Therefore,thereportrecommendsaparticipatoryapproachinwhichtwodifferenttypesofinterventionscanbeoffered:

• Ready-to-implementinterventions:Thesecanbeimplementedwithminoradaptationtonationalsituationsofmemberassociations.

• Co-creativeinterventiondevelopment:Basicoutline,commonapproachandsupportprovidedtohelpwithcountryspecificimplementation.

BasedonpreviousanalysisandthefindingsoftheFADreporttheinterventionsincludeafirstphasetoengendermembers’commitmenttojointaction,enhanceexperienceexchange,strengthenthenewlybuiltanti-dopingnetworkthroughexploitingEHFA’splatformwithintheindustry,andoffersupportandcoordinationforimplementationindifferentcountrysettings.Thiswillbesupportedbyacommunicationcampaignwithaboveandbelowthelinemeasuresprovidingfortemplatesandsupportorimplementationatnationalandlocallevel.

Campaigns,inparticularnationalpopulationlevelcampaigns,shouldbeintegratedwithotheron-goingactivitiesandwherepossibleusetheresourcesoftheprivatesector,forexamplefromthepharmaceuticalsector.

Duringtheimplementationphaseofsingleinterventions,EHFAofferssupporttonationalmemberorganisations,i.e.viatemplates&guidelinesorviaaspecialcoachingofferthatallowsforco-fundingofspecialisedconsultantstohelpwiththeplannedactionsatnationallevel.

Networkingandexchangeamongmembercountriesshouldfurtherbeenhancedthroughhostingannualeventsonthecampaignprogressanddiscussionandofferingsessionsonnationalmemberassociations’annualconferencestobringthetopictotheleveloffitnesscentremanagersandgettheirfeedbackfromapracticalperspective.Kick-offandfinaleventframethecampaignandinterventionperiod.

Finally,campaignsshouldfeatureanevaluationinordertoensurethatcosteffectiveinterventionsarebeingintroduced.Whilstallagentsinvolvedinthedeliveryofcampaignsshouldcontributetothedevelopmentofevaluations,theCommissionhasapotentiallyleadingroletosupportaco-ordinatedapproachacrossEurope.

2.5.2PromotesocialresponsibilityintheEuropeanFitnessSectorthroughananti-dopingCharter

TheEuropeanFitnessSectorshoulddevelopitssocialresponsibilityandshowitscommitmenttoanti-dopingthroughthecreationandadoptionofananti-dopingCharter.

Who TheEuropeanFitnessSector

Complementingthepubliccampaign,membersandstakeholderswhosupporttheworkandstrategyforEHFAwillbeaskedtocommittothecharteronanti-dopingfortheEuropeanfitnesssectoraspartofitsdevelopingsocialresponsibilityposition.Dopingpracticesareharmfultohealthandthefitnesssectorwilltakealeadindevelopingeffectiveanti-dopinginterventionsbasedontheevidenceofthefindingsoftheFADproject.

Asthisreportindicatesthereareanumberofdifferentapproachesforanti-dopingactivitiesinelitesport,andwithsomecampaignsinNordiccountrieswheredopingtestsarecarriedoutatfitnesscentres.Thereportalsoindicatesthattherearesomespecificareasoffitnesscentreuserswhoengageindopingpracticesandtheseofteninvolvepeopleengaginginotheramateursports.TheFADresultsandconsultationresponsesareconvincingthatthereiswidespreadsupportforeducationalcampaignswhichbetterinformexerciseprofessionals,operators/managersoffacilitiesand


consumersabouttheharmfuleffectsonheathresultingfromdopingpractices.Thenowwidely-supportedFitnessCharteronAnti-Dopingisthestartpoint:

TheEuropeanFitnessSectorCharterforAnti-Doping:

The European health and fitness sector is committed to improving the health of its citizens and as such it is fundamentally opposed to the use of doping

and other performance-enhancing substances that harm health. EHFA and its members commit to do their utmost to eradicate doping practices and will cooperate with the Commission, doping agencies,

authorities and governments in studying and implementing the most effective policies, campaigns

and measures to combat doping. The sector will commit to educate and inform its employees and

customers, and to provide information and guidance for operators to have in place effective anti-doping

measures.

WidespreadpublicationandsupportoftheCharterwillensurethatallthreegroups–consumers,managers/ownersandexerciseprofessionals–will,overtime,haveabetterunderstandingofthedangersofdoping.ItisimportantthatnationalorganisationsandfitnesscentrespublicisethefactthattheyhavesigneduptotheCharterinordertoensurethatthehighestpercentageofat-riskindividualsareexposedtoit.

2.5.3Createcrossoveranti-dopingnetworksbetweenthefitnesssectorandothersportingbodies

TheEUshouldbeencouragedtopursueitspolicytoestablishandpromotenetworkstocombatdopinginthehealthandfitness/unorganisedsportsector.Thenetworksshouldbecomplementaryandworktogethertoensurethatthefitness/unorganisedsportsectorsbenefitdirectlyandresiduallyfromtheworkoftheelitesportanti-dopingagencies.

Who TheEuropeanCommission MemberStateGovernments TheEuropeanFitnessSector

37%ofconsumerrespondentssaidthattheyalsoplayedanotheramateursportandasignificant40%oftheseadmittedthattheytookaperformance-enhancingsubstance.Therewouldappeartobeanintrinsiclinkbetweendopinginafitnesscentreandparticipationinothercompetitiveorunorganisedsports.Elitelevelsporthasamatureandsophisticatedinfrastructureatglobal,Europeanandnationallevelthroughanti-dopingagencieswhichworktogethertoensurearigorousapproachistakentotheuseofdrugsinsport.

AshasbeenshownbytheFADresearch,theinfrastructureofanti-dopingorganisationsinunorganisedsportandthefitnesssectorisvirtuallynon-existentandthereisnoEuropeanlevelnetworkwhichbringstogetherMemberStates’toensurethataconsistentapproachistaken.

TheCommissionshouldbeencouragedtoconsidersettingupanetworkofmemberstatestoworktogethertoimplementanti-dopingstrategiesinamateursport,sharebestpracticeandresources,andundertakeresearchintothebeststrategiestoeradicatedopingandeducatecoaches,trainersandotherprofessionals,managersandconsumersoftheharmsofdrugusage.TheseeffortswouldbesupportedbytheEuropeanFitnessSector.TheEuropeanFitnessSectorshouldalsoberesponsibleforstrengtheningthepolicieswithinitssector,irrespectiveofthoseinotheramateursport.

ThroughitsmembershipEHFAnowrepresentsover10,000fitnesscentresacrossEuropeandanewCodeofPracticeonAnti-Dopingwillbedevelopedforallnationalassociationsandtheiroperatormemberstoadoptasa“zerotolerance”policy.Thiswillinclude:

- Modelformsforconditionsforfitnesscentremembershipandusagewhichwillstopanti-dopingpractices- Adviceontherecognitionofacustomerengagingindopingpracticesandhowtointervene- A“kite”markorsymboltobeusedonallliteratureandaplaqueorsimilar,clearlystatingthatitisadopingfreefitnesscentre.Thiswilldifferentiatethemfromcompetitorfacilitieswhicharenotpartofthevoluntaryschemeofanti-doping


2.5.4Developtrainingforexerciseprofessionalsinanti-doping

Exerciseprofessionalsshouldhaveimprovedunderstandingtoidentifythesignsofdopingpractice,educateindividualsonthenegativeimpactofdopingandonpropernutritionalplans.Thisshouldbedonethroughthedevelopmentoftrainingprogrammesforexerciseprofessionalsspecificallyonanti-dopingissues.

Who MemberStates TheEuropeFitnessSector

Exerciseprofessionalsworkonthefrontlineinfitnesscentresandshouldbebetterskilledandknowledgeabletobeabletoassisttheirclientsinreachingtheirhealthandfitnessgoals,withouttheneedforthemtohavetoresorttotakingdopingsubstances.Thesurveyresultsshowthelevelofknowledgeonanti-dopingamongstprofessionalsisinadequatetoservethispurpose.

EHFA’sStandardsCouncilwillbetaskedtoreviewtheoccupationalstandardsusedtoqualifyexerciseprofessionalstoensuretheyincludesufficientknowledgeandunderstandingonthesepoints.ThiswillincludedevelopingsomeprofessionaldevelopmentlearningforexistingexerciseprofessionalstoaccessaspartoftheirindividualLifelongLearningProgramme.

TheEuropeanRegisterofExerciseProfessionals(EREPS)andEHFAStandardsCouncilprovidetheopportunitytodevelopspecialisttrainingtoincreasetheunderstandingofdopingsubstances.TheEREPSCodeofEthicalPracticealreadyhasthestatedobjectiveforexerciseprofessionals“That they never advocate or condone the use of prohibited drugs or other banned performance enhancing substances”.Thisstatementneedstobestrengthenedandincorporatedintotrainingprogrammesforexerciseprofessionalsinamoreexplicitfashion.

2.5.5Tighteningofcontrolsontheproductionanddistributionoffoodsupplements

TheEuropeanCommissionshouldconsiderpromotingbestpracticetoregulatethefood

supplementindustrytoensurethatthetesting,labellingandmarketingofproductsisdonesotransparentlyandresponsiblygivingtheconsumertherequisiteinformationontheingredientsandsubstanceswhichtheyinclude.

Who TheEuropeanCommission Nationalgovernments

Whilsttheotherrecommendationsshyawayfromlegislativemeasures,theoneareaidentifiedfromtheFADprojectresultswheretherecouldbejustificationforregulationoratleastharmonisedcontrol,isintheareaoffoodsupplements.

Withtheknowledgeoftheirwideusebutwithoutafullunderstandingthatthereare‘good’and‘bad’productsbeingsolditshouldbepossibletohaveconsistenttestingandlabellingoftheseproducts.Thiswillbeaddedprotectiontotheretailers(oftenthroughfitnesscentres),butalsofortheunwaryconsumer.

TheresultsoftheFADsurveyshowthat69%offitnesscentressellfoodsupplements,and12%ofwhichdonotchecktoseewhethertheyincludeanybannedorillegalsubstances,whilstasignificantcontingencyareeitherunsureordonotbelievethepotentialdamagethesesubstancesmayhaveontheirhealth.

Theevidenceshowsahighnumberoffitnesscentreusersconsumeavarietyoffoodsupplements.Thegapinunderstandingthatsomeofthesemaybecontaminatedandcontainharmfulsubstancescanbeaddressedbytheharmonisationoftestingoftheseproducts.EHFArecommendstotheCommissionthatthereshouldbetighterregulatorycontrolofproductssoldintheEUtoensuretheymeetcommon,agreedstandards.Thisshouldbedoneinco-operationwithindividualMemberStatestoensurethattheproductsineachcountryaresubjecttothesamerigorousstandardsoftesting.


The Project Partners:

AGAP-Portugal(PortugueseFitnessAsociación)www.agap.pt

BAHF-Bulgaria(BulgarianAssociationofHealthandFitness)www.bahf.bg

DFHO-Denmark(DanishFitnessandHealthOrganisation)www.dfh o.dk

DSSV-Germany(GermanFitnessAssociation)www.dssv.de

DADR-Poland(DepartmentofAnti-DopingResearchofInstituteofSport)www.insp.waw.pl

FIA-UK(FitnessIndustryAssociation)www.fia.org.uk

Fit!vak-Netherlands(DutchFitnessAssociation)www.fitvak.com

HCA&ICCE-Hungary(HungarianCoachingAssociationandInternationalCouncilforCoachEducation)www.magyaredzo.hu&www.icce.ws

ISCA-Denmark(InternationalSportandCultureAssociation)www.isca-web.org

QualiCert-Switzerland(SwissQualityAssuranceCompany)www.qualicert.ch

TheFitnessAgainstDopingProjectisgrant-aidedbytheEuropeanCommission

final report section 2 – executive summary€¦ · fitness against doping - final report -...

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