Loughborough first university to be awarded new UK Anti-Doping education accreditation

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has today announced its new education accreditation scheme, which sees Loughborough University become the first university to achieve the status.

Aimed at universities, schools and colleges, the anti-doping education accreditation scheme intends to recognise the positive work of academic institutions in promoting clean sport. With three tiers of accreditation for universities to aim for, Loughborough has been awarded ‘elite’ status, the highest level available.

Having worked with UKAD for the past four years to develop the education scheme, Loughborough is extremely proud to have achieved this status as it continues to promote clean sport.

Over the last three years more than 300 athletes have received anti-doping education, which identified a number of athletes competing at a national level who needed to complete therapeutic use exemption (TUE) forms.

Winners of the British Universities & Colleges Sport title for the past 35 years, and with National Governing Bodies such as British Athletics, British Swimming and British Triathlon based on campus, this status is yet another step to showing the significance of sport at Loughborough.

As part of the accreditation process, Loughborough University had to:

•         provide anti-doping education sessions for all sports teams and support staff

•         offer anti-doping workshops to students using sports facilities

•         conduct research on anti-doping

•         plan an enhanced testing programme for performance sports and elite athletes who are based on campus

UKAD Chief Executive, Nicole Sapstead, said:

“Education is the cornerstone of protecting clean sport and a fundamental part of our prevention strategy. The new UKAD Accreditation Scheme for schools, colleges and universities is an exciting opportunity for us to engage with education providers in a way we have never done before, ensuring that quality anti-doping education programmes are in place at all levels of sport, and throughout an athlete’s career.”

Of the recognition, John Steele, Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University added:

“There’s no doubt this is an extremely challenging time for sport globally, as its integrity and ethics are being challenged on many levels. At Loughborough University we are committed to playing our part in keeping the values and power of sport intact. That’s why we have worked so hard over the last four years to become the first university to achieve this status”.

For further information on the UKAD Accreditation Scheme visit www.ukad.org.uk/athletes

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