Information & Education

According to a Strategy document adopted by the NOC’s General Assembly in 2003, information on anti-doping rules and regulations and the health consequences of using doping shall be widely distributed in the NOC and affiliated bodies. The revised Code that entered into force on 1 January 2009 also includes Education & Information activities.

On this basis, Anti-Doping Norway has defined the following target groups for its Education & Information programme:

Athletes in the Registered Testing Pool and their support personnel:

• National top level athletes and their support personnel
• Athletes participating in competitions
• Youths participating in organised (competitive) sport
• Sports medical personnel

These target groups are reached out by a wide range of different measures, including lectures and seminars, campaigns and stands, distribution of educational material and an informative website.

In 2008, Anti-Doping Norway launched a new concept: the “Clean Concept” (Clean Sport, Clean athlete, Clean Fitness Centre etc.). All Education & Information activities are based on the “Clean Concept”.

Anti-Doping Norway employs 13 lecturers part time.

Lectures and seminars
Lectures represent an important element of the preventive work of the foundation. A group of 13 qualified lecturers has been established, trained by Anti-Doping Norway to give lectures on anti-doping subjects. This pool includes personnel educated in physical science, medicine and educational science. The lectures include information on the prohibited list, anti-doping regulations, doping control, health consequences and diet and nutritional supplements. Through these lectures, Anti-Doping Norway reaches out to a huge amount of athletes, coaches and leaders. Priority has been given to young athletes.

Anti-Doping Norway organises a biannual seminar for athlete support personnel (doctors, physiotherapists etc.) on important anti-doping issues, including doping list updates, doping control, the NOC´s anti-doping rules and regulations, methods of analysis, therapeutic use exemptions and new doping regulations.

Anti-Doping Norway also organises meetings with the various national sports federations in order to strengthen the relationship between Anti-Doping Norway and each federation, and to inform them on different aspects of the anti-doping work.

Campaigns and stands
Norway Cup is one of the biggest international football tournaments for children and youth in the world, and takes place every year in Oslo at the end of July. More or less 30 000 young athletes from the world participate. Anti-Doping Norway is always present with a stand, and goes out with a strong campaign against the use of doping. The campaign aims at encouraging young athletes to take an active stand against doping. The campaign is promoted by several Norwegian top level athletes.

Anti-Doping Norway has stands at several sports-related events, aimed at athletes, sports medical support personnel and sports political leaders. Key events are major sports events, Sports Federations General Assemblies, chairpersons meetings for the NOC’s Executive Board and the chairpersons of the regional sports bodies and National Sport Federations, and sports medical congresses.

Educational material
Anti-Doping Norway also develops educational material, amongst others, information pamphlets on anabolic steroids, ephedrine, nutritional supplements, marihuana, alcohol, cocaine and amphetamine. Other specific pamphlets are also being developed according to the needs and requirements. Educational material is distributed to sports federations, local clubs, sport facilities, fitness centres and schools. The material is also distributed at lectures, stands and in doping controls. In addition, educational material is presented on the website of Anti-Doping Norway, cf. below.

Other sources of information
The Anti-Doping Norway website is an important tool for communication and information. All relevant information can be found on the website, including the Prohibited list, which is always updated.

Anti-Doping Norway publishes a newsletter called "Ren Idrett" ("Clean Sport") four times a year. The newsletter is sent to all of NOC´s organizational units and is also available on the website. A short version of the newsletter is translated into English, French, Spanish and Russian and is sent to International Federations and other Anti-Doping Organisations all over the world. Anti-Doping Norway also organises press conferences and seminars for the media.