(Ottawa, Ontario – December 3, 2009) – According to Nanos Research, a public opinion research firm, an overwhelming majority of Canadians believe that Olympic athletes caught taking banned substances during the Olympic Games should face harsh penalties. 

The majority of Canadians polled (67%) said there should be “severe sanctions” – from a four-year ban to a lifetime ban – on Olympic athletes who test positive for using performance-enhancing drugs. 

“This is a powerful statement by Canadians that they continue to stand up for clean sport and a level playing field,” commented Paul Melia, CEO and President for the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES).

Canadians can take comfort in the knowledge that the CCES, a long-time world leader in the fight against doping in sport, has been working with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) for more than five years to develop and implement a world class anti-doping program with the primary objective of seeking to prevent, deter and detect doping through a comprehensive approach.

This approach includes an extensive pre-Games education program aimed at both Canadian and international athletes.

“The recent Nanos poll strengthens our belief that Canadians want real sport to win,” stated Mr. Melia. “It is important for our children to know that excellence doesn’t come out of a bottle or from a magic pill.”

The CCES, an independent, ISO certified (International Standards Organization), national anti-doping agency, will provide VANOC with expertise and training as well as a range of other services including the release of senior staff members that have joined the VANOC team until after the Games.

This is a made-in-Canada solution and represents the first time in the history of the Olympic Games that a national anti-doping organization has been responsible for providing the model and managing the program. Almost 100 volunteer CCES doping control officers will be providing their services and support during both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The CCES is an independent, national, non-profit organization. Our mission, to foster ethical sport for all Canadians, is carried out through research, promotion, education, detection and deterrence, as well as through programs and partnerships with other organizations.

-- 30 --

For further information, please contact:
Rosemary Pitfield, Director of Communications,
(613) 521-3340 x3236
(613) 355-0889
rpitfield@cces.ca  

(Aussi disponible en français)