2023-24 ANTI-DOPING

This article forms part of a series of reports accompanying the 2023-24 BF Annual Report.

Background

At the beginning of 2021 a new UK National Anti-Doping Policy was introduced, this is a Government policy that enables the UK to meet the UNESCO Convention against Doping in Sport. The policies and requirements are driven by the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) standards.

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) then published an Assurance Framework that all NGBs must comply with. British Fencing (BF) has been leading the work in completing this framework for fencing, ensuring all anti-doping policies (including those of the Home Nations) comply with the new standards.

See details of the assurance framework on UKAD’s website here.

As part of this work, British Fencing produced an education strategy to cover all the requirements for this framework.

In April 2024 we again completed this Assurance Framework under which the 2023-24 initiatives were delivered:

Looking ahead: Assurance Framework update 2024

In April 2024, all BF’s anti-doping requirements will be reviewed and updated to ensure BF continue to meet the requirements of the UKAD assurance framework. We will complete a new implementation plan for our programme, using UKAD approved templates.

Website and Communication

Activities in the 2023-24 period included:

• Maintaining our website with the latest information from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD). See all the information you need as an athlete, parent, coach, or other person involved in fencing here.
• Posting regular online news posts on policy updates and reminders along with highlighting education opportunities. See an example news post about WADA updates and checking your medicines here.
• Being active on social media, with reminders and information relevant to all members of BF and all those who support them. For example, posts on X with information about anti-doping.

Training and Education

• BF-led education sessions continued online with Community Discussion sessions every few months, delivered by Neil Brown, Clare Queen (Scottish Fencing), and Lorraine Rose.
• Updates were provided to all ADP fencers at intervals throughout the year.
• Anti-doping education is also a core part of the Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) syllabus so forms part of the ADP athlete education plan.
• A series of webinars delivered by the (International Testing Agency) ITA for the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime (FIE) was promoted and shared to the community.
• In addition, anti-doping information relevant to our senior fencers was disseminated and further information and support given to support teams, coaches and other athlete support personnel (ASP).

Anti-Doping Educator CPD
Members of our educator team have attended multiple workshops and training webinars with UKAD and the International Testing Agency (ITA). These have looked at the latest updates, the changes to the prohibited list that are published every year, discussions with experts in anti-doping scientific and education research, and some online session delivery training.

Coach Quality Assurance
As part of BF’s commitment to supporting Clean Sport, it is a requirement for all coaches travelling to international events or working with the ADP to have completed UKAD’s online course Coach Clean within the last three years.

The certificate upload is a field on the membership database to enable monitoring and automation of reminders when they are due for renewal.

Please see the Coach Clean course (for coaches working at all levels) and the Introduction to Clean Sport course (for anyone supporting an athlete in any role) on the UKAD eLearning portal here.

International Fencers
All fencers who are selected by BF for any international events (at all age groups, senior, junior, or cadet) now must specifically agree that they have the knowledge to compete clean and understand their clean sport responsibilities before their selection can be confirmed.

UKAD have an online education course for athletes, called Compete Clean+. ADP fencers have been strongly encouraged to do this course, and upload their certificate to their membership record on Sport:80. Fencers selected for major championships are required to complete this course and we have promoted the Introduction to Clean Sport course for all parents of selected athletes.

Cardiff Wheelchair World Cup
We liaised with World Abilitysport and UKAD for testing at this event.
We provided an anti-doping information stand in the hall throughout the event, with educational opportunities for all teams.

Click here for the full 2023-24 Annual Report.

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