Fight against doping

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, June 25, 2009: Just 20 days prior to the opening ceremony of the 8th World Games, 265 qualified gymnasts are getting ready to depart for Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei’s second largest city. The athletes hail from 4 of the 7 official FIG disciplines: Individual Rhythmic Gymnastics, Synchronised Trampoline Gymnastics, Tumbling and Double-mini, Aerobic Gymnastics and Acrobatic Gymnastics.

The FIG reminded participating federations of the testing procedures that will be imposed on participating gymnasts. National governing bodies for gymnastics are required to distribute the information at every level of their organisation, notably information regarding prohibited substances, their evolution and testing procedures. As always, the best way to prevent doping and actively counter abuse of and violations to anti-doping rules is through simple communication, or the circulation of information. In Kaohsiung, athletes will be tested both in and out of competition in compliance with FIG-ratified WADA procedures (World Anti-doping Agency).

At a recent symposium dealing with the legal issues surrounding sport management, the FIG expounded on the responsibility borne by the national federations for their gymnasts, specifically in pre-competition training and anti-doping affairs.