November 27, 2007 (Ottawa, Ontario) – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) made prevention and promotion a priority during the three-month summer quarter, rolling out an online education program to student-athletes prior to the start of the post-secondary sport season. The school sport season was also a factor in the high number of doping control tests completed during the period (941 tests), a result of a test distribution plan that targets detection and deterrence at all levels of amateur sport.

Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) showed its bold leadership in doping-free sport with its resolution to make online doping education mandatory for its student-athletes. To date, 10,532 university athletes have successfully completed the one-hour multimedia information session as part of their eligibility requirement. The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) also rolled out the online course to college athletes, with 3,214 college athletes passing the online course and thousands more experiencing it as a team presentation.

“The incredible uptake of our e-learning tool has been really exciting,” said Paul Melia, President and CEO of the CCES. “The fact that we have directly reached thousands of athletes with our ethical sport message motivates us to consider the potential of taking it to high school kids. For this audience, we’d like to focus on inspiring them with the principles of True Sport and showing them some decision-making tools to help make sport a positive experience for them and for their peers.”

Of the 941 tests the CCES conducted between July and September 2007, 86% were carried out under the domestic doping control program (806 tests). The strong quarter was anchored by 509 tests (63%) conducted out of competition, a direct result of our increasingly effective athlete whereabouts program. See the attached table for details by sport on tests conducted on Canadian athletes.

A large number of tests were done on behalf of national and international federations during events held in Canada (125 tests). Specifically, 36 tests were conducted for the PanAm Fencing Championships, and 26 for FINA during the Women’s Water Polo World League Super Finals 8 and the Traversée internationale du Lac Memphrémagog.

The CCES also provided testing services for the Association of National Anti-Doping Organizations (ANADO, 5 tests) and for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA, 5 tests) under their out-of-competition testing programs.

There were four anti-doping rule violations reported during this three-month period. Two athletes in the sport of wheelchair basketball received a two-year sanction, and two additional athletes in the sports of canoe/kayak and wheelchair basketball received a warning and reprimand.

In preparation for the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2010, the CCES is increasing the numbers of doping control officers (DCOs) certified to conduct sample collection. A training workshop was held in Ottawa in August, where 17 new DCOs were given hands-on doping control training as the first step toward certification.

The CCES is an independent, national, non-profit organization. Our mission, to foster ethical sport for all Canadians, is carried out through research, promotion, education, detection and deterrence, as well as through programs and partnerships with other organizations.