Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport Congratulates Canadian Olympic Athletes on Medal Count

CCES credits collaboration with Sport Canada and COC for pre-Games testing plan and thorough athlete preparation

(Ottawa, Ontario – February 27, 2014) – Today, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) congratulated all Canadian Olympic athletes for their achievements at the Sochi Olympic Games, including the outstanding medal results. The CCES is particularly proud that no Canadian athlete tested positive for banned substances, as part of the CCES’ comprehensive pre-Games testing program.

“Canada did everything it could to prepare its athletes to compete to be the best against the best in Sochi,” said Paul Melia, President and CEO of the CCES. “This was our most sophisticated and comprehensive pre-Games testing program in the history of the CCES.

“We tested all 221 Canadian Olympic athletes at least once in the four months leading up to the Olympic Games. The CCES completed more than 700 urine tests and 103 blood tests on winter sport athletes between October 2013 and February 2014,” said Melia.

According to the International Olympic Committee, 2,667 tests were carried out as part of the Sochi anti-doping program.

The International Olympic Committee may keep certain doping samples collected during the Olympic Games for 10 years as part of the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code, allowing further analysis at any time for any banned substance. 

“The financial contribution we received last November from Sport Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee made it possible for us to test all athletes before the Olympic Games,” said Melia. “With the extra funds, the CCES implemented a more comprehensive and intelligence-based approach to its anti-doping program, including testing each Canadian athlete going to Sochi.”

This work is part of other enhancements being made to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, which is based on testing the right athlete, at the right place and the right time. The enhancements will also support the anti-doping efforts for the Toronto 2015 and Rio 2016 Games, along with all Canadian athletes, winter or summer.

As part of its pre-Sochi anti-doping initiatives, the CCES provided athletes with access to an e-learning module to educate them on all aspects of the anti-doping process. The module includes specific information on athlete rights and responsibilities. Athletes were reminded to complete their whereabouts and check all their medications using Global DRO (www.globaldro.com), the online database that allows athletes to quickly find information on the status of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Athletes who require the therapeutic use of a prohibited substance for a legitimate medical reason, must apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption for consideration. 

A similar pre-Games testing program is currently underway with Paralympic athletes as they prepare to travel to Sochi for the Paralympic Games from March 7 to 16.  

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport is an independent, national, not-for profit organization that manages the Canadian Anti-Doping Program. We recognize that true sport can make a great difference for individuals, communities and our country. We are committed to working collaboratively to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system; protecting the integrity of sport from the negative forces of doping and other unethical threats; and advocating for sport that is fair, safe and open to everyone.

Website: www.cces.ca             
Twitter: @ethicsinsport           
Facebook: CanadianCentreforEthicsinSport

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