ANTI DOPING Irish Sports Council launches Anti-Doping Education campaign

The Irish Sports Council launched its new Anti-Doping Education Campaign at the FAI’s Kennedy Cup at the University of Limerick today (12th June).  The campaign entitled ‘E-Z Win – Don’t throw it all away’ is run in partnership with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It’s a proactive programme that aims to reach out to the next generation of young Irish athletes to educate them about the dangers and consequences of doping in sport.

The campaign features an interactive computer game that athletes can play winning prizes in the process, while all the time learning about doping. A series of invaluable information leaflets are provided on various elements associated with doping including supplements in sport, stimulants, diuretics and masking agents, hormones, beta-blockers and more.

The FAI's Kennedy Cup; a tournament for schoolboys offered the ideal platform to educate the future generation of Irish soccer players about doping in sport, in an interactive and fun way. Hundreds of athletes visited the ‘E-Z Win’ stand to play the WADA Anti-Doping game and learn about the various aspects of doping.  It was a unique chance for athletes, their parents and coaches to interact with staff from the Council’s Anti-Doping Unit about all aspects of doping in sport.

 Irish Sports Council Chief Executive John Treacy said:
“It is of vital importance that we reach out to our next generation of Irish athletes to educate them about the perils of doping, and its consequences to their health and their sporting careers. We want to teach them the use of banned substances not only threatens their health but runs the risk of destroying their career and reputation with it. E-Z Win speaks to our aspiring athletes in a way they appreciate to get the message across that doping is no substitute for the dedication and hard work that is integral to a successful sporting career.”

The Irish Sports Council will be coordinating with other National Governing Bodies of Sport over the summer to bring the Athlete Outreach Education Campaign to young and developing athletes at key events including Tri-Athlone, Community Games national finals, appropriate swimming and GAA events, and much more.

As an added benefit to the roll out of the E-Z Win campaign the Council’s Anti-Doping Education officer; Ailish Keaveney has been invited to work as a member of the Athlete Outreach team at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Ends.

For more information:
Sinéad McElroy, smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie, 01-8608804 or 087-6338512

Please note:
Pictures of the campaign launch will be sent to your picture desk by Sportsfile www.sportsfile.com 01-4547400