Athletes optimistic at end of doping conference in Calgary

CALGARY Olympians and Paralympians at the first anti-doping forum organized by and for athletes experienced a political awakening in Calgary.

The two-day conference featuring 104 athletes from 54 countries concluded Tuesday with the commitment to enshrine athletes’ rights in the World Anti-Doping Code for the first time, and with the realization of the collective power they can wield in the fight against doping.

“I feel like this has been a real watershed moment for athletes,” said Canadian cross-country skier Beckie Scott, who chairs the World AntiDoping Agency’s athletes’ committee.

“I would say my faith has been renewed over the last couple of days.

“Many athletes who felt they didn’t have power or value or something to contribute suddenly recognized their power.”

Scott’s Olympic bronze in 2002 was upgraded to silver and then gold over the course of two years because competitors ahead of her were stripped of medals for doping violations.

Allegations of state-sanctioned doping by host Russia at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and how the world governing bodies of sport handled the situation at both the 2016 Summer Games and 2018 Winter Games, threw the Olympic movement into turmoil.

The Calgary forum included talks by and discussions with WADA president Craig Reedie, director general Olivier Niggli and others.

Athletes listed corruption, conflict of interest and lack of independence by anti-doping organizations around the world as their top concerns.

A charter of athletes’ rights that will be integrated into WADA’s antidoping code in 2021 was a significant outcome of the forum for Scott and others.