Respect, one of the Olympic core values, stands for respect for your opponent, your teammates, but also for your own body. The Olympic Movement strives for a doping-free sport worldwide. The priority is to support and protect clean athletes, both on and off the field, so they can truly practice their sport.
An important organization for international anti-doping policy is the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which, as an independent agency, is responsible for harmonizing anti-doping policy across all sports and all countries. In our country, the Flemish, French, and German-speaking Communities have also committed to following the WADA World Anti-Doping Code in their respective decrees and regulations.
In Belgium, four bodies – the anti-doping organizations or NADOs – are responsible for implementing anti-doping policy:
- The Flemish Community (NADO Flanders)
- The French Community (ONAD Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles)
- The Common Community Commission of Brussels-Capital (NADO GGC Brussels)
- The German-speaking Community (NADO Ostbelgien)
Anti-Doping and Belgian Athletes
The WADA Code, together with the International Standards and the various decrees and regulations, forms the legal framework for anti-doping policy in Belgium. The Code and the different Standards are also regularly revised. For example, the renewed Code (adopted in Katowice in November 2019) came into force on January 1, 2021.
For athletes in Belgium, several specific rules apply to support clean sport and clean athletes.
Elite athletes at national or international level (those belonging to the so-called ‘Registered Testing Pool’) can be tested out of competition at any time. They are therefore required to provide their whereabouts information to the international federation or the competent NADO. Failure to submit or correctly update this information can lead to sanctions. These details are entered and monitored via the ‘Anti-Doping Administration & Management System’ (ADAMS).
In addition, there is the list of prohibited substances (the so-called ‘Prohibited List’), which in Belgium is also published annually in the Belgian Official Gazette through ministerial decrees. Athletes are required to be aware of the list and any possible updates. Athletes who, due to therapeutic necessity, are prescribed a prohibited substance must apply for a ‘Therapeutic Use Exemption’ (TUE). Only once this exemption is approved can they legally use the prescribed medication.
Furthermore, since 2015, WADA has included in the Code a list of individuals (the ‘Prohibited Association list’) who may not be part of an athlete’s entourage.
The Role of BOIC
For BOIC, promoting clean sport and supporting clean athletes, as well as safeguarding the integrity of sport in line with Olympic values, is a cornerstone of its activities.
A significant part of these activities naturally concerns the multidisciplinary competitions organized within the Olympic Movement. For competitions organized by the IOC (including the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games), the IOC issues specific anti-doping rules based on the WADA Code (e.g., Anti-Doping Rules for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games). Specific rules also apply to competitions organized by the EOC or other organizations. BOIC explicitly refers to these rules through codes of conduct for athletes and other delegation members.
In addition, BOIC aims to play a facilitating role in the cooperation between the four anti-doping organizations in Belgium, particularly for:
- Collaboration on athlete awareness initiatives (for example, during youth training camps, Team Belgium camps, etc.).
- A specific project on prevention and awareness in Belgium is the initiative ‘Play True Day Belgium’ (more information below).
- Coordination of anti-doping activities in Belgium (e.g., for multidisciplinary competitions) and the application of rules for Belgian athletes
eLearning WADA
The fight against doping is a shared responsibility within the sports world. BOIC encourages athletes to make use of the e-learning tools developed by WADA, which are available through ADeL, WADA’s ‘Anti-Doping e-Learning platform.’
This platform brings together various tools, such as the ALPHA module for athletes, in one convenient and user-friendly online environment. ADeL is designed for athletes, coaches, support staff, doctors, sports organization employees, and administrators. For example, there is the ‘Coach True’ module for coaches, the ‘Sport Physician’s Toolkit’ for doctors, and the ‘ADO Kickstart’ for staff of anti-doping agencies and sports organizations.
Play True Day Belgium
Play True Day Belgium is a joint initiative of the four Belgian anti-doping organizations, BOIC, BPC (Belgian Paralympic Committee), AISF (Association Interfédérale du Sport Francophone), and VSF (Flemish Sports Federation).
This initiative is encouraged by WADA to promote clean sport. Its aim is to raise awareness among athletes and supporters about the global fight against doping and to make them realize that doping use goes against the spirit of sport and poses serious health risks.
How can you contribute to Play True Day? The Play True initiative is for every Belgian athlete and sports enthusiast who cares about clean sport. It is primarily supported by the various sports federations, which shape the initiative together with the partners. If you want to take action or see a good opportunity to highlight clean sport, don’t hesitate to contact one of the partners. Because together we go for #CleanSport!
For more information about Play True Day, you can contact:
Voor meer info over Play True Day, kan u contact opnemen met:
NADO Vlaanderen: Marc Van der Beken, marc.vanderbeken@nado.vlaanderen
ONAD Wallonie-Bruxelles: Elisa Engels, elisa.engels@cfwb.be
NADO Brussel: Stéphanie Sirjacobs, antidoping@ggc.brussels
NADO Duitstalige Gemeenschap: André Sommerlatte, andre.sommerlatte@dgov.be
BOIC: Matthias Van Baelen, m.vanbaelen@olympic.be
BPC: Olek Kazimirowski, olek.kazimirowski@paralympic.be
VSF: Sophie Cools, sophie@vlaamsesportfederatie.be
AISF: Luc De Witte, conseiller@aisf.be