Anti-Doping Education

The Anti-Doping e-Learning platform (ADeL) , which has been developed by WADA and is recommended by World Sailing, offers access to all topics related to clean sport and anti-doping. It offers courses for athletes, coaches, doctors, administrators and anyone interested in learning more about anti-doping and protecting the values of clean sport.

World Sailing and the International Testing Agency (ITA) recently hosted a weekly webinar series designed to provide valuable information to the global sailing community so that everyone could  contribute to a clean sport at every level. Further webinars will be made available later in 2023.

All National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADO’s) have developed education programmes and these will be available to sailors.

For example:

• In the UK, see UKAD 100%me.
• In South Africa, see SA Institute for Drug Free Sport.
• In Australia, see Sport Integrity Australia.
• In Switzerland, see Cleanwinner.

Sailors are encouraged to use ADEL or approach their own country NADO but if any further information is required please contact World Sailing at medical@sailing.org

ADeL currently includes the following modules:

• ALPHA – gives athletes information about the dangers of doping and the importance of anti-doping controls and promotes positive attitudes to avoiding doping.
• CoachTrue – provides anti-doping education for coaches of elite and recreational-level athletes. It has different modules covering all anti-doping processes as well as tutorials, scenario-based activities and quizzes.
• Sport Physician’s Tool Kit – a streamlined version of the paper based tool kit that allows physicians and other medical personnel to take the course electronically. In addition to covering anti-doping modules specific to sports physicians, there are also three modules covering major games topics, done in collaboration with the IOC. The material contained in the Sport Physician’s Tool Kit (SPTK) is intended to help sport physicians develop anti-doping education programs that can be adapted and customised to suit local cultures, conditions and resources.
• ADO Kickstart is a reference tool that supports MNA anti-doping administrators in delivering their core anti-doping duties on a daily basis. Step-by-Step processes are outlined with supporting templates, relevant resources for each activity.
• Parent’s Guide – An anti-doping reference guide/booklet for parents seeking more information to ensure healthy athletic development and prevent the use of prohibited substances. This resource is relevant to parents of all levels of athletes from beginner to elite.

Aside from the heavy implications for fair sport, doping has severe health and social consequences.

Prohited substances can have a marked effect on your health:

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Prohibited Substance	Possible consequences
Steroids	Acne; mood swings; libido disorders; high blood pressure; cardiovascular and liver disease; psychological dependence; contracting hepatitis and HIV from needle use, developing features of the opposite gender
Human Growth Hormone (HGH)	Risk of diabetes in those already at risk; worsening of cardiovascular diseases; muscle, joint and bone pain; hypertension and cardiac deficiency; abnormal growth of organs; accelerated osteoarthritis
Erythropoietin (EPO)	By thickening the blood, EPO abuse can lead to heart disease, a stroke and cerebral or pulmonary embolism.
Amphetamines	Anxiety, ventricular dysrhythmias, hypertension, hallucinations, addiction, death.
Stimulants	Increased heart rate, palpitations or cardiac irregularities; insomnia, anxiety, tremor and aggressiveness; inhibited judgement or decision making, dehydration.
Narcotics	Increased pain threshold and failure to recognise injury; loss of balance and coordination; sedation.
Insulin	Hypoglycaemia, drowsiness, coma, brain damage, death
Blood Doping	Allergic reaction, acute hemolytic reactions with kidney damage if incorrect blood type is used; delayed transfusion reactions resulting in fever and jaundice; transmission of infectious diseases; overload of the circulatory system and blood clots

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In addition to the health consequences, there are social implications for commiting anti-doping. A positive test can have a significant effect on an sailor’s life, because as well as being dangerous to your health, doping can result in a loss of standing, respect and credibility. The sailor may also have problems convincing the media and the public about negative tests in the future.

Those who cheat are remembered and sailors can become isolated and cast-out from our close community. In addition, you must consider the effect on your life of:

• Losing the support of your team, coach and MNA (including funding)
• The damage to your record – including any previous results
• Losing current and future sponsorship deals
• The damage to your relationship with your family and friends.
• Your career prospects – whether in sailing or after
• The stress and damage to your emotional and psycholofical well being

The consequences of doping could spell the end of your sporting career, your reputation and your future prospects both in and out of sport.

The sanctions for an anti-doping violation can include:

• disqualification of results at an event, including forfeiture of medals
• a ban from all sport (competing, training or coaching) for up to four years or even life in repeat or the most serious cases
• publication of your anti-doping rule violation
• financial penalties.

It is inevitable that a positive test will mean stories in the TV news, in newspapers, on social media such as Facebook and Twitter. In cases of deliberate cheating, you will very likely be the subject of public contempt.

Cheating will place pressure not just on you but others close to you, friends, partners and family. It is these consequences which are frequently the most difficult for sailors to deal with.