UEFA supporting WADA Play True Day for Peace

UEFA has given its full support to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2022 Play True Day for Peace, which underlines the commitment to combating doping and ensuring clean competition. UEFA's anti-doping activities are embodied in the two pillars of education and testing.

Delivering education

A UEFA integrity educational session in Riga, Latvia UEFA via Sportsfile

Awareness and prevention are key elements of UEFA’s anti-doping programme. In an average season, the organisation delivers 48 information sessions to both male and female teams competing in our various youth competitions.

In addition, UEFA has introduced a new funding scheme which earmarks €10,000 for each of our 55 member association for education programmes, which will allow national bodies to reach up to 35’000 players and 1700 medical staff across Europe.

Extensive testing

UEFA anti-doping officers at EURO 2020UEFA via Getty Images

According to WADA, football is the world's most tested sport, ahead of athletics and cycling. UEFA conducts the third-highest number of tests of any sports body worldwide, with around 3,000 blood and urine samples collected each season across club and national team competitions. In addition, specific screening is carried out for substances such as EPO, ESA and human growth hormone.

For example, a total of 1616 tests were carried out within the framework of UEFA EURO 2020, via a combination of pre-tournament out-of-competition testing and in-competition testing at qualifying matches and during the EURO itself. All tests returned negative results.

To ensure the safety of the teams under COVID-19 protocols, UEFA implemented additional hygiene measures such as separate waiting areas for the two teams, regular PCR testing for anti-doping personnel and the use of specialised protective equipment.

In support of Ukraine

This year WADA is using its annual Play True Day to reinforce the message of peace, as the sporting world expresses solidarity with the people of Ukraine amid the on-going war and humanitarian crisis in the country.