Motion for a recommendation | Doc. 13534 | 11 June 2014

Rethinking the anti-doping strategy

Signatories: Mr André SCHNEIDER, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Volodymyr ARIEV, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Josep Anton BARDINA PAU, Andorra, ALDE ; Mr Joe BENTON, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Paolo CORSINI, Italy, SOC ; Mr Carlos COSTA NEVES, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Ms Milena DAMYANOVA, Bulgaria, EPP/CD ; Lady Diana ECCLES, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Gvozden Srećko FLEGO, Croatia, SOC ; Sir Roger GALE, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Margus HANSON, Estonia, ALDE ; Mr Kent HÄRSTEDT, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Rafael HUSEYNOV, Azerbaijan, ALDE ; Mr Jan KAŹMIERCZAK, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Pierre-Yves LE BORGN', France, SOC ; Mr Nicos NICOLAIDES, Cyprus, SOC ; Ms Gabriela PECKOVÁ, Czech Republic, EPP/CD ; Mr Volodymyr PYLYPENKO, Ukraine, SOC ; Ms Elisabeth SCHNEIDER-SCHNEITER, Switzerland, EPP/CD ; Mr Piotr WACH, Poland, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The scandals which occur on a regular basis show that the scourge of doping has, unfortunately, not been stemmed. The entry into force of the Unesco Convention against Doping in Sport, the establishment of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the adoption of an Anti-Doping Code have been significant advances. Nevertheless, the limits of the anti-doping measures in place are now beginning to appear. The WADA itself acknowledged the fact in 2010: there is a vital need for additional strategies relating to screening, research and education so as to combat doping effectively.

Doping is becoming very widespread in amateur sport and the sport practised by millions of young people. Apart from the distortion of sports results and the very serious violation of sports ethics, we are therefore faced with a major risk for public health. The Council of Europe, which was behind the work that led to the drafting of the 2005 UNESCO Convention, should have a key role in this area.

The Parliamentary Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers develop practical action to step up the fight against doping, both at European and at global level, by taking a holistic approach, including the development of new measures for improving prevention through information and education for young people, reviewing screening methods with regard to new pharmaceutical products and new procedures, encouraging the harmonisation of criminal legislation and evaluating the operation of the WADA.