Anti-doping programmes to educate youth at Nanjing Youth Olympics

Education, as well as testing, will play a big part in the anti-doping programme at the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games to be officially opened on Saturday in Nanjing, China.

"Anti-doping activities have been planned during the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games, Nanjing 2014 to educate the young athletes about the dangers of drug use, especially in sports," said Zhao Jian of China, the executive deputy director of the anti-doping work team for the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee (NYOGOC).

Anti-doping activities at the Youth Olympic Village (YOV) include WADA's Play True Generation Programme which is delivered during major multi-national, multi-sport events for athletes under the age of 18 and educates athletes about their rights and responsibilities with regard to anti-doping.

A computer game - Play True Challenge - was launched at the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010, and similar activities will be held in Nanjing.

"These athletes are just starting their career in sports and they need to understand that doping is not the answer. Of course, if anyone tests positive, action will be taken," he added.

In-competition testing covers the period from 12 to 28 August 2014, during which approximately 300 urine tests will be conducted. Blood tests may also be carried out.

There is only one doping control testing station for these Games, situated at the YOV. Athletes will be notified at the village and samples will be taken in accordance with IOC and WADA rules. All samples collected in Nanjing will be sent to a WADA-accredited laboratory in Beijing for analysis.

"There are 30 lab technicians in our (China Anti-Doping Agency) lab in Beijing assigned specifically for the YOG," said Zhao, who is also deputy director general of the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA).

The IOC, in consultation with NYOGOC and the International Federations (IF), will decide how many or which athletes should be tested daily. The list may not specifically name an athlete. Instead, it may just state the sport, or require the doping control officers (DCO) to select athletes from within a ranking bracket.

All IOC and WADA rules that apply in the Olympic Games also apply at the YOG. "The only difference is that when the athletes are notified, they are allowed to have a coach accompany them because they are under 18 years of age," said Zhao.

NYOGOC has trained 50 doping control officers to carry out the procedures which include notification of athletes, chaperoning and collecting of samples.

"CHINADA conducts regular training annually and all the DCOs are people with medical backgrounds, such as nurses and doctors. Student volunteers will not be involved in anti-doping operations," he said.