Spreading the word against doping

By Andrew Haslam in Belfast

UEFA has continued to increase its campaign against doping in football at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals in Northern Ireland by holding educational sessions for all eight of the qualifiers.

Inform and prevent
The hour-long sessions, which aim to prevent doping and inform players of the official procedures involved in doping control and the dangers doping presents to their health and careers, were led by Marc Vouillamoz, UEFA's head of anti-doping. Also present were Dr Mogens Kreutzfeld, a member of both UEFA's anti-doping panel and medical committee, and UEFA's anti-doping specialist Caroline Thom.

UEFA stance
Vouillamoz began by defining doping, and then informed the players of UEFA's stance on prohibited substances; namely that sanctions will be taken. He also warned the players that they are ultimately held responsible for the substances that enter their body.

Policy explained
There followed an explanation of UEFA's testing policy, which can be in or out of competition. The players were told that, should they be selected for testing, they are to follow precisely the instructions of the doping control officer; if they do not, it could be considered an offence. At the European U19 Championship, a chaperone is appointed to accompany the players from the moment they leave the field until they enter the doping control station.

Procedure defined
There then followed a step-by-step explanation of UEFA's doping control procedure, from the player being notified he has been selected to his identity being verified by the doping control officer (DCO). A sealed beaker is then selected for the urine sample and, once a minimum of 75ml has been provided under the constant observation of the DCO, it is divided into two bottles, the A and B samples.

Forms signed
The two bottles are sealed, before the DCO and then the player check and sign the doping control form. Next, the relevant team doctor completes the declaration of medication form and provides, if necessary, a copy of a therapeutic use exemption request or certificate should the player be taking any medicine. The player and team doctor then sign the form.

Injuries assessed
There was also an explanation of what happens if a pre-selected player is able to provide a partial sample only, or has been injured or sent off. Injured players are assessed by the DCO before leaving the stadium, while players who have been shown a red card must remain available to be tested. This section ended with a reminder that failure to undergo a doping control constitutes a doping offence and will incur the relevant sanctions.

Kreutzfeld caution
Dr Kreutzfeld then took the floor, and told the players: "Doping can ruin your health, and your career." He explained about UEFA's prohibited list of medicines, and said that the world anti-doping agency (WADA) is doping's ultimate authority. The Dane added that players should always contact their team doctor before taking any medicines or food supplements, in order to protect themselves. He warned against taking recreational drugs, and emphasised again the damage to players' bodies and health caused by taking banned substances.

Illustrious figures
The educational seminar ended with a question-and-answer session where the panel addressed concerns or issues raised by the teams. Finally, the players watched a video showing the procedure for doping control, and with a number of the game's most prominent names, including Michel Platini, Sir Bobby Charlton, Didier Deschamps, Frank Rijkaard and Paolo Maldini, warning against doping.