Testing unlikely in Rhodes

GUERNSEY'S Island Games competitors are unlikely to be drugs-tested in Rhodes - but they are at future Island Games. At the International Island Games Association's AGM two years ago in Shetland it was agreed that the IGA would sign the WADA-Code.

It meant that doping tests could take effect from the games in Rhodes.

'As team manager of the Guernsey Commonwealth Games team in 2006 I took on a similar role to ensure the athletes knew what was expected of them,' said David Harry, the Guernsey Island Games Association WADA liaison officer.

'The International Island Games Association have indicated their intention to sign up to WADA which means that as a major sports event they will be required to implement a drug testing procedure.

'This is not likely to happen in Rhodes for the 2007 Island Games but it is likely to feature in future Island Games.

'However, that doesn't mean to say that there cannot be drug testing at the Island Games,' he said.

Each sport is run by an International Federation and when entering an event held by it competitors are obliged to comply with its drug testing policies.

Each International Federation has signed up to the WADA code, so, for example, if the organiser of the cycling events in Rhodes was told that the Rhodes Cycling Federation wished to carry out drug tests, they would have to provide for this and the competitors would have to comply with a request to take a drug test.

'As a result of this, the Guernsey Island Games Association put in place an education policy assisted by UK Sport so that all the Games' competitors had an anti-doping advice card and a pamphlet setting out drug testing procedures,' said Mr Harry.

Each sport also had a DVD to show to their team members giving advice against taking drugs and giving case histories of sports people who had been caught and the effect that it had on them.

But perhaps the most worthwhile help was the ability to check any medicines on the www.didglobal.com website.

This stands for the Drug Information Database run by UK Sport. Any athlete who is prescribed medication by their doctor can check to see if that medicine contains any constituent that is prohibited.

All athletes have been asked to give information as to any medicines or supplements they are taking so that they can be checked against the ?didglobal? website.

Several athletes, as is common with any member of the public, were receiving treatment for continuing medical problems, particularly the use of inhalers for asthma.

'These almost invariably contain a prohibited substance and, in those instances, steps were taken for the athletes to obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption Certificate. For medicines such as inhalers there is a 'quickie' procedure called an Abbreviated Therapeutic Use Exemption and several sports availed themselves of this procedure,' said Mr Harry.

'Our athletes in Rhodes will not be subject to having to supply details of their whereabouts to drug testers, as was necessary at the Commonwealth Games, and the Guernsey Island Games Association has done all that it can to ensure that the Rhodes team members have up-to-date information and that those who are prescribed medicines are covered by Therapeutic Use Exemption Certificates.'

'It is hoped therefore that Guernsey athletes will hit the headlines for all the right reasons and none of the wrong ones,' he said.

Guernsey's team manager Roy Martel said: 'As far as I'm aware there will be no doping tests in Rhodes. My understanding is that the IGGA will not be carrying out any drug testing because it's a very expensive operation to set up.'

'I would be very surprised if there is any drug testing in Rhodes but it's a possibility in future Games and Guernsey have worked on the basis that there could be and our athletes have been warned about the medication they are taking and drinks and supplements and have been given information about how to establish if they are on the Wada ban list, particularly those who are competing and receiving medication allowing them to compete,' he said.