UK Anti-Doping signs agreement with NHS Protect
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NHS Protect, setting out clear guidelines for sharing information in the fight against the supply and trafficking of doping-related substances and activities in sport.
This latest development enhances UKAD’s ability to prevent, deter, detect and enforce any anti-doping rule violation in all sports under the World Anti-Doping Code, reaching out to a new audience within the National Health Service. Partnerships with external agencies have proven vital in the organisation’s work to date, leading to the successful prosecution of anti-doping rule violations.
Information will be shared with UKAD by NHS Protect when it relates to the detection, deterrence, enforcement or prevention of an anti-doping rule violation. UKAD will share information with NHS Protect when it relates to the illegal prescribing, supplying, administering or disposing of NHS drugs within or for an NHS body.
NHS Protect leads on work to identify and tackle crime across the NHS. Its purpose is to safeguard NHS resources so that the NHS is better equipped to care for the nation’s health.
Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson said: “Drug cheats have absolutely no place in sport and in the UK we are working hard to ensure we not only catch the cheats but the suppliers and traffickers that put banned substances in their hands. The partnership between UK Anti-Doping and the NHS, with information sharing at its heart, will play an important role in the continued fight against doping.”
UK Anti-Doping Chief Executive Andy Parkinson continued: “Formal links with external agencies are fundamental to ensuring that UK Anti-Doping has access to valuable information, allowing us to focus on those wishing to gain from the supply and trafficking of prohibited substances.
“When creating UK Anti-Doping as an independent agency in 2009, our vision was to build a centralised body that firstly removed the conflict of interest for sports in the area of doping and secondly allowed us to establish partnerships with public authorities.
“Today, we are delighted to formalise our relationship with the NHS and strengthen our ability to tackle the supply of doping-related substances, particularly in relation to administration. This should send another clear message to those who are considering becoming involved in doping activities, that we are doing all we can to protect the rights of athletes to participate in clean sport.”
Richard Rippin, NHS Protect's Head of Information and Intelligence, said: "NHS Protect leads on work to identify and tackle crime across the health service, including fraud and the theft of controlled drugs. UK Anti-Doping is one of the organisations with which NHS Protect shares intelligence and information, which ultimately helps both organisations prosecute and deter criminals."
Ivana Bartoletti, NHS Protect's Information Governance Lead, added: "Sharing information, within strict legal boundaries, is crucial to increase cooperation between organisations to tackle crime. Our MoU with UK Anti-Doping gives a solid legal framework for this data sharing."
