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EDITORIAL | FIGHT AGAINST DOPING IN FOOTBALL
FIGHT AGAINST DOPING IN FOOTBALL | EDITORIAL
Since we are dealing with ambitious and independent professionals, FIFA’s anti-doping strategy relies on education and prevention...
Editorial
Dear Members of the International Football Family
FIFA has a clear vision for its anti-doping strategy in football: to make the game free of doping. It is our duty to protect the players from harm and ensure that they can compete on a level playing field. Since we are dealing with ambitious and independent professionals, FIFA’s anti-doping strategy relies on education and prevention, thereby ensuring their support in our fight against doping. Naturally, FIFA aims at interfering as little as possible in the normal course of matches and tournaments and the recuperation of players after a game. At the same time, we demonstrate our respect for the dignity and privacy of each player who is subjected to testing. A worldwide network of specially trained physicians therefore ensures the correct implementation of FIFA’s doping control procedure, which is straightforward and leaves no room for cheating or wrong doing. As far as we can judge from current data, the incidence of doping in football appears to be very low, and we have no scientific evidence for systematic doping in football. As abuse still occasionally occurs, much closer collaboration with other antidoping organisations such as WADA, the IOC and international federations is required regarding banned substances, detection methods and data collection. At the same time, a firm stand must be made against the suppression of s ymptoms through medication with the sole objective of meeting the ever-increasing demands on professional football players.
FIFA actively acknowledges its responsibility in the fight against doping through stringent doping control regulations, data collection of positive samples and active support of research in the field, complemented by large-scale prevention promoted by the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC). FIFA has proved to be a reliable and supportive partner in the much-needed worldwide collaboration of all parties involved in the fight against doping to safeguard the health of athletes and the spirit of fair competition. However, the increasing use of recreational drugs such as marihuana and cocaine is outside the scope of doping and reveals the need for collaboration far beyond the capacity of anti-doping agencies and sports organisations. FIFA is ready to play an active role in this challenge to the worldwide community and to reach out to the billions of young people linked to us through their passion for the game. By acknowledging this responsibility, we will not only make the game better, but also contribute to making the world a better place!
Joseph S. Blatter FIFA President
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