The International Testing Agency, in collaboration with the International Canoe Federation, delivered clean sport education to many of the brightest prospects in Canoe Sprint and Canoe Slalom.
This month has seen ITA Education Ambassadors speak with junior and U23 athletes at two of the ICF’s biggest competitions of the year.
Thais Cevada of Brazil attended the ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships in Foix, France before fellow ITA Education Ambassadors Dona Hegyi of Hungary and Simona Castro Lazo of Chile went to Montemor-o-Velho in Portugal for the ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships.
At both competitions, an interactive clean sport presentation was delivered for the ICF Development Camp athletes and support personnel, followed by two engaging days at the clean sport education booth filled with games, activities and information.
Athletes learned how to check their medications using Global Drug Reference Online, better understand supplement risks and even simulate a doping control process.
The Anti-Doping Rule Violations game was especially popular among non-English-speaking participants, making complex topics more accessible and fun.
Through scenario-based games, visitors also learnt how to report suspicious behaviours and got familiar with the REVEAL platform.
Hegyi said it was important to find fun ways to engage with athletes to ensure they are educated in anti-doping and the role of the ITA.
“As we know, anti-doping can be quite a dry and complex topic so not everyone is involved and interested in it,” said Hegyi.
“We just want to break the ice between the athletes and anti-doping, so the purpose is to show them that it can be fun to learn.
“The general feedback was that they found it very useful.
“They were a bit sceptical at first but when they came they realised that through playing games they can learn something and many athletes were taking pictures about their work and results. It’s great.”
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