More than 250 representatives of governments and the sport movement are expected at COP5, in order to discuss anti-doping challenges and propose solutions in line with the Convention to eliminate doping at a time of growing concern about the use of performance enhancing drugs by teenagers and young adults, including recreational athletes. 

For the first time during an anti-doping COP, UNESCO will welcome former Olympic medallists, such as Canadian Olympic cross-country champion Beckie Scott and Romanian Olympic champion fencer Laura Badea, who will be available to speak to the press in the morning of 29 October. They will appeal to governments to act for clean sport. 

“Prevention is better than cure. We have achieved a great deal in the last decade. We must continue our advocacy work to educate and enforce in order to fulfil our ambition of eradicating doping from sport worldwide. The only possible way to fight doping effectively is through education,” said UNESCO’s Director-General Irina Bokova. 

The Convention, which was adopted on 19 October 2005, offers a nearly universal framework to help countries harmonize their laws to combat the use of prohibited substances in sport. Based on the World Anti-Doping Code, States commit to restrict trafficking in doping substances; apply common practices to control use by athletes in competitions; improve detection techniques; as well as support education and deterrence. 

UNESCO’s partners include the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Council of Europe and Interpol. The Convention supports the World Anti-Doping Code in bringing consistency to anti-doping policies and regulations within governments and sport organizations across the world. 

UNESCO, which also administers a $1.8 million Fund for the elimination of doping in sport, said that the use of performance enhancing substances not only caused serious health problems but also undermined fairness and ethics in sport. The Fund, which was set up in 2008, aims to help countries enforce the Convention and strengthen anti-doping capacity, educate about the dangers of doping and help ensure sportsmen and sportswomen make choices compatible with clean sport practices and fair play. 

UNESCO is working with the Brazilian Anti-Doping Authority ahead of the 2016 Olympics and Paralympic Games in Rio in order to strengthen its fight against doping in sport through education, prevention and testing and to preserve the beauty of high performance competition. 

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Athletes and officials will be available to speak to the press as of 9 a.m. on 29 October. For accreditation, please contact Djibril Kébé, UNESCO Media Services, d.kebe(at)unesco.org

[1] Sierra Leone is soon to become the Convention’s 183rd State Party.