The FA Anti-Doping Education Programme
It is recognised that most Players wish to compete honestly, fairly and clean. Education, as one prevention strategy, seeks to help players and other Participants to prevent them breaching The FA Regulations in relation to Integrity topics, and to promote behaviour in line with their values and fair play. A player’s first experience with anti-doping should be through education rather than testing or a disciplinary hearing.
The fundamental aims of the Anti-Doping Programme laid down by The FA, are threefold:
1. To uphold and preserve the ethics of sport
2. To safeguard the physical health and mental integrity of players
3. To ensure that all players have an equal chance
These aims are aligned with the International Federation for football, FIFA , who are a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code.
Information Programmes
The FA produces a range of resources to support clubs, players and support personnel with their anti-doping responsibilities. All resources are reviewed ahead of each season to ensure that they are relevant and up to date. The majority of resources are available to download below with hard copies also distributed to clubs at the beginning of each season.
Clean Sport Education
The FA will operate a blended learning approach to its anti-doping education with face-to-face delivery, videos and online modules tailored to the audience.
Statistics
2020/21 Season:
*The FA's usual live Club Visit Integrity workshops were affected by the pandemic
Anti-Doping Videos
The FA Anti-Doping team has developed a series of short videos, aimed at Players covering a range of essential anti-doping topics. Each video can be accessed here or through the Essentials Information For Players app.
A summary of what each video covers is below:
Keeping Football Clean. Clean For All.
If a Player takes drugs to cheat there is no place for them in Football. This video takes a closer look at what substances are banned, and what the consequences will be for a Player caught cheating.
The Dangers of Social Drugs
Players should be aware that social drugs are banned at all times. This video explains how taking social drugs could damage both a Player’s health, and reputation.
Medications and Supplements
Players need to be aware that they could take a banned substance without knowing, or intending to cheat. This video explains what Players can do to avoid accidentally testing positive.
The Testing Process Explained
Players can be tested at any time and at any location. This video explains what a Player should expect if they are selected for a drugs test.
What a Player needs to know about whereabouts
Whereabouts is a tool to support an effective no advance notice testing programme. This video explains what a Player’s responsibilities are in relation to Whereabouts.
Contact Information
Please do not hesitate to ask questions about any aspect of anti-doping rules. As well as checking the regular updates from UKAD found in the news section of their website, or on their Twitter account: @ukantidoping, you can also contact The FA at Anti-Doping@TheFA.com.
You can also visit the PFA website here for further information.
If you need to speak to someone in confidence regarding social drugs, you can contact the Sporting
Chance Clinic at; Tel: 0870 220 0714 e-mail: info@sportingchanceclinc.com.