April 2004

IGA ACCEPTS ANTI-DOPING PRINCIPLES

The Island Games Association (IGA) has accepted the principle of adopting the policy of the World Anti Doping Agency but has deferred a final decision pending further investigations into the implications.

The Agency is based in Montreal and all countries wanting to take part in the Olympics have to sign up to its Code of Practice. It was felt the IGA too should adopt the same policies but at a recent meeting of the executive committee questions were raised as to the costs involved.

During a lengthy discussion the Association’s Honorary Legal Adviser, Geoff Karran, raised his concerns and highlighted the many legal implications for the IGA - particularly in relation to the costs of testing.

The Honorary Medical Adviser, Carl Clinton, has been asked to look into the medical side while General Manager Gary Jakeman is to discuss the testing aspect with Sport Scotland in relation to the Shetland NatWest Island Games of 2005. Any costs incurred by the IGA in signing up to the Code of Practice would fall on the Association itself or the next host Island. Mr. Jakeman is trying to ascertain whether Sport Scotland, as the ruling body, has any plans to carry out testing at the Shetland event and will be reporting back to the next executive meeting in July.

In the meantime, the committee has accepted the principles inherent in the Agency’s Code of Practice but is suggesting a decision should be deferred - probably to the 2005 annual meeting - so as to allow time for further investigation. This is because the matter is not as straightforward as it appeared initially.

ENDS