RYA backs second UK Anti-Doping Clean Sport Week

Kieran Holmes Martin - World Cup Series - Hyeres © Jesus Renedo / Sailing Energy / World Sailing

The RYA is throwing its full support behind UK Anti-Doping's second Clean Sport Week, which launches next Monday (21 May).

This year's campaign, which will again have the support of a range of National Governing Bodies (NGBs), sports organisations and UK sports stars, will celebrate clean athletes and their success, and promote the work of the anti-doping community in the fight for clean sport.

The campaign will also have a strong focus on supplement use and image enhancing culture in the UK, with new research set to be revealed during the week to encourage a wider public debate on the issue.

The RYA has recently updated its Anti-Doping Strategy to provide further awareness education for younger squad sailors, and accessible information for the wider sailing community. To find out more about how the anti-doping rules apply to sailing, please see the RYA's anti-doping webpage.

Sarah Treseder, RYA CEO said:

"The RYA fully supports UKAD and their work to promote a culture of clean sport. The week will include a number of events led by UKAD, and will feature social media videos from UK athletes, including the British Sailing Team, showing their support for clean sport, through a series called 'Feat of Strength'. UKAD will also use the week to raise the culture of supplement use, which is something that the RYA is seeking to address through its education and awareness programme".

Nicole Sapstead, UKAD's Chief Executive, said: "Our education programme is a vital part of our prevention work at UKAD. We are committed to delivering a high-quality programme in collaboration with our partners.

"Clean Sport Week provides the perfect platform for sports in the UK to come together and showcase the fantastic work going on from grassroots to elite level.

"At the same time, we believe there is also a vital public debate that needs to take place around the growing supplement culture in the UK and this year's campaign will aim to do this. This has the potential to be a serious public health issue impacting on wider society and we want this debate to look at where people are obtaining their products, how aware they are of what is in them and the potential long-term effects of using them."

UKAD and its partners are supporting athletes from grassroots to elite level through one of the world's most extensive education and intelligence-led testing programmes. It has 30 National Trainers who deliver clean sport education, over 200 Doping Control Personnel, who work as part of the sample collection process and more than 2,300 Accredited Advisors around the UK.

The organisation provides and supports a range of educational, anti-doping and clean sport resources to help athletes at all levels including its '100% Me' programme.

For more information on anti-doping, or to report any concerns, please contact the RYA's anti-doping officer, Anna Warren at .