Summary: EU Commissioner Figel' calls on EU Member States to ratify UNESCO's Convention against Doping in Sport (22 September 2006: Brussels)
During a meeting with European sport federations yesterday in Brussels, the European Commissioner in charge of Education & Training, which includes Sport, Ján Figel', called on Member States to ratify UNESCO's Convention against Doping in Sport. Under this Convention, States Parties undertake to support the World Anti-Doping Code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) by adopting "appropriate measures at the national and international levels which are consistent with the
principles of the Code", by encouraging "all forms of international cooperation aimed at protecting athletes and ethics in sport and at sharing the results of research" and by fostering "international cooperation between States Parties and leading organizations in the fight against doping in sport, in particular with the World Anti-Doping Agency" (Article 3 of the Convention). The autonomy of sports organisations will be respected within the established national frameworks. Thirty ratifications
are required before the Convention can enter into force. According to information provided by UNESCO, seventeen countries had communicated their ratification, acceptance or accession by mid-August. Among EU Member States, five ratifications had been recorded (Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania and the United Kingdom). Given the strong European commitment to drug-free sports, the EU could make a substantial contribution to the achievement of the objectives of the Convention if the remaining
Member States ratified.
For more information on the Commission's work in the field of sport, see:
http://ec.europa.eu/sport/index_en.html
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