Doping is prohibited in all sports as it constitutes cheating and is physically harmful. Athletics is, and should be, like all forms of sport, an activity that promotes health, and in order to preserve credibility and, at the same time, take social responsibility, we must work hard to prevent doping.
The Swedish Athletics Association (SFIF) works in collaboration with the National Sports Association (RF) to prevent doping. RF is Sweden’s national anti-doping organisation, a so called NADO according to the world anti-doping code. NADOs are part of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which is the global anti-doping organisation. The Swedish doping regulations, and large parts of Swedish anti-doping work, follow the WADA global rules laid down in “The World Anti-Doping Code”. WADA was founded in 1999 and it is an association made up of the world sports and governments with the mission to harmonise rules and coordinate the fight against doping, in all its forms.
Everyone who is a member of a Swedish sports club/association is subject to RF’s statutes and anti-doping regulations. Every single athlete is responsible for knowing and following the doping regulations. SFIF’s anti-doping program should lead to the dissemination and maintenance of knowledge about doping regulations and attitudes against doping. All relevant information on doping, from WADA and RF, can be found at www.rf.se/antidoping/. It is the responsibility of the SFIF to ensure that updates and education relating to doping issues take place continuously within the clubs/associations. Within the club/association all individuals, i.e. athletes, coaches, leaders, have a responsibility with respect to doping, but the primary responsibility lies with the medical committee and the board.
SFIF’s anti-doping policy
“All use of banned substances is unacceptable. No sporting result is so important that the use of banned substances can be justified.”
SFIF’s vision is:
A winner should be able to enjoy an honest victory.
A loser should be safe in the knowledge that they lost in an honest struggle.
A spectator must be sure that banned substances and methods have not influenced the result.