Speech by the State Secretary Per Kristian Skulberg

Doping in sport: a reflection of the development of international elite sport, and of cultural traits of the society at large

World Conference on Doping in Sport, Lausanne, 2nd-4th February 1999

Mister President,

Participants of the World Conference on Doping in Sport,

The initiative of the International Olympic Committee to convene a World Conference on Doping in Sport was, of course, a very appropriate and timely decision to take in the aftermath of last summer’s and autumn’s events. The explosive nature of the fragments of information that emerged from the intervention of the police and customs officers during the opening face of Tour de France, and the disclosure of lack of good laboratory practice in the IOC accredited laboratory in Rome, required actions to be taken in order to try to restore public faith in the willingness of the leader-ship of sport to stand up against the picture indicated by these events.

The general state of affairs in international sports, as far as anti-doping measures are concerned, could in itself be a reason for summoning a World Conference of this kind. By this statement I indicate a certain reluctance to consider last summer’s events as something completely unexpected. Doping practices have been a parasite part of international elite sport for more than thirty years. The unwillingness to define a wholehearted war against doping, has been caused by entanglement of idealistic ideas and - the intense pursuit to capture the interest of the media and the world audience through spectacular performances.

Regardless of what our opinion might be on the causes behind the more dramatic events of last summer and the general state of affairs, this Conference has the opportunity to give authoritative directions to the parties involved, as a step to restore confidence in sport`s willingness to represent stated ethical values.

The Norwegian Government supports the IOC initiative through this conference, and will stay firmly behind every solution offered by this Conference to combat doping through persistent political, scientific and administrative measures.

Let me shortly mention that the anti-doping initiatives in Norway date back to the early 1970-ies. The Norwegian Confederation of Sport’s attitude was stated clearly at the General Assembly in 1971. At the General Assembly in 1976 the decision was taken to make acceptance of testing a requirement for membership in clubs belonging to federations under the Confederation. Since that time a national anti-doping programme has been in place, financed by the Confederation through the funds provided by the Government. The Confederation’s legal and administrative capacity and competence have developed considerably throughout the years, as a natural response to the increasing challenge caused by the growing complexity of doping cases.

The Doping Laboratory at Aker Hospital in Oslo was initiated in the mid 1980-ies, and got its full accreditation in 1988. Also this process was supported, and to a large extent financed by the Norwegian Government.

The Norwegian Government has reasons to believe that the Confederation’s handling of the operative Norwegian Anti-Doping Programme is widely respected within Norwegian Sports, and supported by the public opinion as competent, impartial and professional. The 2500 to 3000 tests taken yearly, of which close to 70 % are so-called “out of competition tests, without prior warning”, are one indication of the effectiveness of the Anti-Doping Agency of the Confederation. The total population of Norway is 4,4 million people, of which approximately 1,7 mill. memberships are registered by the Confederation.

It goes without saying that Norwegian athletes are treated as equal members of the same national system, i.e. the same rules, regulations and sanctions are applied to all athletes, regardless of their sport and affiliation.

The basis for the Norwegian Government’s strong support of the anti-doping endeavours of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports ( today merged with the Norwegian Olympic Committee) is the belief in sport as a means to more fun in life, better health throughout life, more energy in work, and - easier and lasting contacts with other people. Sport has close links to national culture and identity. It is important for the Government that these values are not left behind - as dominant parts of sport becomes more internationalised, more professional and commercial on its way to world fame.

Since the formation of a separate agency for sport inside the Council of Europe in the late 1960-ies, the so-called CDDS, the Norwegian Government has taken part in this body’s activities, not least in its longstanding qualified work to counter doping in sport. The Anti-Doping Convention, initiated by the British Sports Minister, the R. H. Mr. Colin Moynihan, in 1989, and adopted by the Council of Europe in the autumn of the same year, has been a vital contribution to strengthen the anti-doping initiatives in many countries in Europe.

The Norwegian Government uses this opportunity to pay tribute to the Council of Europe’s important contributions – over a long period – to the anti-doping work of Governments and national sport organisations mainly in Europe.

The anti-doping policy of Norway is based on the firm belief that qualified national systems have to be in place in order to tackle these problems with reasonable success. That is the reason why Norway was eager to join the initiative taken in the early 90-ies by the responsible governmental agencies of Australia, Canada and Great Britain to establish close co-operation between competent national anti-doping organisations. The International Anti-Doping Agreement (IADA), at present signed by seven countries, is a vital source for updating and quality assurance of the anti-doping programmes inside the member countries (AUS, CAN, GBR, NED, NOR, NZL, SWE). Several other countries are likely to join the IADA in the near future.

During nearly 25 years of organised, qualified national anti-doping activity inside sport in Norway, the experience along the road has disclosed the need for new solutions and given rise to new initiatives. Norwegian sport, through the Confederation, has been constantly proactive during the whole period. On the initiative of the Confederation of Sports the Ministry of Justice in the late 1980-ies prepared an amendment to the Penal Code, making it illegal to manufacture, import, export, store, send or convey any doping substance. This amendment was passed by Parliament, and came into force in June 1992. The penalties for infractions could, in severe circumstances, end in imprisonment for 6 years.

During the discussions around 1990 the question of criminalisation of the users of doping substances was a hot issue. At that time this difficult element was not included in the Penal Code. This issue is, however, now raised by some parliamentarians, and will have to be dealt with by the existing formalised co-operation between six ministries (Cultural Affairs, Health and Social Affairs, Justice, Children and Family, Education and Research, Defence), the Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sports, and the University of Sport and Physical Education. This formalised structure is in the process of producing a cross ministerial Anti-Doping Plan of Action, to be presented to the Government in August this year.

Let me finish by saying that national systems have to be in place if the anti-doping scourge is to be countered effectively. National sport systems as part of our national culture and daily life of our citizens cannot be handled from an international agency. Co-operation is, of course, necessary and important in order to harmonise rules, regulations and sanctions between the different international federations. It should, however, be kept in mind that athletes are nationals of countries, and are protected and treated according to the laws of the respective country. No private organisation can acquire the right from a Government to operate with the authority of state structures. In the fight against doping many of the measures needed for an effective counter attack is based inside the formal structures of Governments, and can only be activated through co-operation and mutual respect.

If there is to be an international agency as proposed by the IOC, such an agency must be completely independent and transparent.

This is an important point underlined by the British minister Tony Banks and several other ministers this morning.

I sincerely hope this Conference will reflect the attitude and understanding that sport organisations cannot solve the doping problem within sports only through their own competence and capacity - not to speak of the growing problems outside of organised sports. Co-operation and respect have to be the recipe if this complex threat to the modern sport culture is to be effectively met.

Thank you.