GUERNSEY competitors face drug testing for the first time in the NatWest Island Games at Aland.
With the International Island Games Association signing up with the World Anti-Doping Agency, this summer’s Games in Aland will be the first one where drug tests will take place.
And the Guernsey Island Games Association’s drugs education officer, Graham Chester, who is being assisted by physiotherapist and qualified UK Sport anti-doping advisor Dan Guillemette, has a clear message.
‘Someone, and I hope they are not from Guernsey, will be caught, but it will probably be in innocence,’ said Chester, who is also the island’s sports development manager.
Drug testers from the Swedish Anti-Doping Agency will be present at the Games.
They have the power to test any competitor, at any time, from the start of the Games to the closing ceremony.
It is not known how many there will be, how many tests they will carry out or whether competitors will be randomly chosen or not.
The tests can be done using urine, blood or hair samples.
They will check for performance enhancing drugs and for recreational drugs as well.
Guillemette, who is the Guernsey team physiotherapist in Aland, had a forthright answer when asked if he had any advice for any competitor going to the Games who took recreational drugs such as cannabis or cocaine.
‘If they are competing, they shouldn’t be taking any,’ he said.
Something that is known is that however many tests that they carry out this year, the number will be increased by 10% at the Isle of Wight Games in 2011 and by another 10% two years later in Bermuda and so on.
If a competitor fails a test they will be thrown out of the Island Games and if they are part of a team, that team will also be ejected.
The guilty competitor will also be banned for life from all future Games.
They will also come under the jurisdiction of their sport’s governing body and probably face a ban from competing competitively in their sport.
If a Guernsey competitor is using any prescription drugs, Chester and Guillemette are urging them to speak to their doctor, who will have been given a copy of the WADA prohibited list.
‘If they are on any medication, for whatever it can be, we advise them to go and see their GPs to see if it is on the prohibited list or to contact their sport’s national governing body and speak to their anti-doping officer,’ said Guillemette.
If someone is on medication that is prohibited they will have to fill out and sign a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) form and send it to the IIGA Medical Commission, at least 30 days before the start of the Games.
The information for this is under the medical section on the IIGA website – www.islandgames.net.
Guillemette also advises that anybody who is taking non-prescription drugs should check with their pharmacist as to whether it is on the prohibited list.
Supplements throw up another set of problems as they may contain prohibited substances that may not be named in their ingredients.
‘Supplements are the danger,’ said Chester.
‘For example fat burners could have stimulants. You just want to be careful because they might have hidden ingredients.’
Chester and Gullemette are giving lectures to all the sports going to the Games.
But they are adamant that the responsibility lies with the competitors.
‘We’re not chemists so we can’t advise them as to what they can take or not,’ said Guillemette.
‘Our role is to make sure that we’ve given everyone an awareness of anti-doping and of the procedures.
‘The real take home message is that athletes are solely responsible for any prohibited substances found in their system despite whether they intended to cheat or not.’
For more information see www.wada-ama.org, www.100percent.co.uk and www.islandgames.net.
Article posted on 14th April, 2009 - 2.30pm
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