CISM strengthens its fight
Published on 02 June 2008
As a sports physician commissioned to write a piece on my specialty, it would be far more gratifying to discuss the impact of physical and sport exertion on brain activity a field that is as modern as it is fascinating or the genetic causes of tendinopathies of the Achilles tendon, to mention but a couple of specific and narrow issues, than to address doping, admittedly a fashionable theme among the media but also one that is ultimately as negative as it is pathetic.
However, practice and to a degree topicality forces this unpleasant choice upon us.
CISM has entrusted logistical responsibility for its anti-doping activities to its Sports Medicine Commission.
Within the limits of its (modest) means, CISM spares no effort to implement and enforce the overarching anti-doping rules contained in the WADA Code. It has enacted its own anti-doping rules, subsequently approved by WADA and presently under review for full compliance with the Agency’s new Code. It urges championship organisers of conduct tests which need to be performed according to the rulebook, preferably by professionals who are available within national civilian sport movement (umbrella sport organisations, national Olympic committees, etc.). Naturally, CISM demands that analyses be performed by accredited laboratories and that results be processed diligently and accurately, in particular when it comes to the transmission of data to Brussels. It keeps detailed statistics about tests, results (especially when positive!), deviations from quantitative testing requirements which vary in the different sports and other relevant quantitative data. It manages positive test results, conducts hearings of athletes who petition for an audience through an independent Discipline Commission, and takes sanctions. In conducting the above activities, it cooperates closely with the relevant civilian international sport federation, since athletes who are sanctioned by CISM also normally have to be by the corresponding civilian organisation. This mutual recognition is both very specific to CISM and very important and an area where practical improvements are also needed. Finally,
What CISM does not do and needs to review in the context of full WADA recognition is have a scheme in place to perform tests outside competitions; so far, we delegate this task to the Member Nations because in practice, they alone know the location of their military athletes at all times (in high-level civilian sport, athletes have to disclose their place of residence on a daily basis in order to allow performance of unannounced tests!). Another thing
The Sport Medicine Commission is in the process of adjusting the CISM anti-doping regulations to WADA requirements in close cooperation with the specialised services of the Agency. Because something needs to be done. Indeed, we are unfortunately faced on a regular basis with positive test results, which are systematically confirmed by B-sample analyses when requested. This is how in 2007, two athletes tested positive both during the Military World Games. The table below presents positive testing statistics since 2000. Moreover, the cases regularly involve substances whose use could not possibly be construed as routine medical treatment, compulsory notification of which the athletes might simply have overlooked.
As already mentioned several times, the quality of anti-doping initiatives within CISM can roughly be equated to the sum total of the efforts of its Member Nations. It would be to the advantage of these countries to rely on the solid civilian structures that exist in most of them to meet the exacting standards imposed by WADA and the sports movement in general. Not only will close cooperation with existing competent bodies ensure that an efficient prevention and testing system is in place, it will also guarantee the attendant availability of significant financial support in a rather cumbersome system, financially speaking.
Regardless of the solution that is ultimately chosen, CISM can ill-afford to relax its contribution to the fight against one of the worst evils plaguing contemporary competitive sport, at the risk of loosing face and the recognition and potential support it needs like all fully-fledged international organisations.
Le CISM renforce sa lutte contre le dopage
Publié le 02 Juin 2008
En tant que médecin du sport appelé à écrire un article sur sa discipline, il serait bien plus gratifiant de parler de l’influence de l’activité physique et sportive sur l’activité cérébrale, un domaine de recherche des plus actuel (et combien passionnant), ou des causes génétiques des tendinopathies du tendon d’Achille, pour ne parler que de thèmes choisis particuliers et restreints. Plutôt que de parler de dopage, un thème certes médiatique mais en fin de compte négatif et en fin de compte navrant.
Et pourtant, la pratique et une certaine actualité nous obligent à faire ce choix déplaisant.
Il a attribué la responsabilité logistique de cette lutte anti-dopage à sa Commission de médecine du
Dans la mesure de ses (faibles) possibilités, le
Ce que le
Actuellement, la Commission de Médecine du Sport est en train d’adapter le règlement anti-dopage du
Car il est nécessaire que quelque chose se fasse. En effet, à intervalles réguliers, nous devons hélas enregistrer des résultats d’analyses positifs, confirmés à chaque coup par la contre-analyse, lorsque celle-ci est demandée. C’est ainsi qu’en 2007, il y a eu 2 résultats positifs, les 2 à l’occasion des Jeux Mondiaux Militaires. Le tableau suivant illustre la statistique des cas positifs depuis l’an 2000.De plus, il s’agit régulièrement de cas indiscutables, à l’aide de substances qui ne relèvent pas de traitements banals qu’on a simplement omis de signaler.
Comme nous l’avons mentionné à plusieurs reprises, la qualité de la lutte anti-dopage du
Quelle que soit la solution envisagée en fin de compte, le