INTERNATIONAL DRUGS IN SPORT SUMMIT

In the lead up to the 2000 Olympics, the Australian Government has reaffirmed its continuing commitment to taking a leading role in tackling drugs in sport issues.

In May 1999, the Australian Minister for Sport and Tourism, the Hon. Jackie Kelly, MP, launched a comprehensive Tough on Drugs in Sport strategy. This strategy includes a range of interdependent initiatives aimed at deterring the use of banned performance enhancing drugs in sport.

The International Drugs in Sport Summit is a major element of Tough on Drugs in Sport.

The International Drugs in Sport Summit
The International Drugs in Sport Summit is an international meeting of government ministers responsible for sport. It is hosted by the Australian Minister for Sport and Tourism and held from 14 - 17 November, 1999, at the Sheraton on the Park Hotel, Sydney, Australia.

Summit aims
The Australian Minister for Sport and Tourism has identified a number of aims for the International Drugs in Sport Summit. These are to:

• provide an opportunity for governments to reaffirm their individual commitments against drug use in sport; and
• gain the commitment of governments to adopt best practice in doping control, including the implementation of effective drug-testing programs and increased out-of-competition testing across all sports.

The Summit will also provide an opportunity for governments to discuss further actions that all governments can collectively take to:

• advance the fight against doping;
• commit to agreed standards in doping control
• demonstrate a commitment to high-quality and ongoing research in detection methods; and
• improve international cooperation and collaboration through bilateral and multilateral anti-doping agreements.

The role of governments in anti-doping
Governments have a unique role to play in anti-doping in sport and doping control.

There are number of ways governments can take the lead in the fight against doping in sport, including:

• government anti-doping policies;
• commitment to increasing out-of-competition testing for Olympic and non-Olympic sports;
• the adoption of international quality standards for testing and analytical procedures; and
• harmonisation of anti-doping action (where practicable).

Delegates
Ministers from countries in Europe, North and South America, Africa, and the Asia/Pacific region have been invited to attend the Summit.

Official Observers
A number of observer delegations are also attending.