Centre for Ethics’ second quarter sees CFL begin hGH testing

(Ottawa, Ontario – November 17, 2011) – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport would like to recognize and acknowledge that in September 2011, the Canadian Football League (CFL) became the first major North American professional sport league to implement testing for human growth hormone (hGH).  With the assistance of the Centre for Ethics in Sport, blood collection is now fully incorporated into the league’s drug testing program.

“The CFL believes that blood testing is an important part of a robust drug testing program,” said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon, “and we feel that our partnership with the CCES has enabled us to really demonstrate our commitment to a safe and healthy environment for our players.

“We are impressed by how well our players and teams have responded to the testing program. The emphasis we placed on education over the past two years has definitely led to greater understanding and acceptance throughout our league.”

Over the past year, the CFL has engaged in several initiatives to help foster a drug-free sport environment, including extensive education for its players and support personnel, participating on the Task Force on the Use of Performance Enhancing Drugs in Football, and the expansion of its testing program to include mandatory testing of the league’s top 80 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) draft-eligible players.

“From its work with the CIS to its drug testing program, the CFL has taken great strides to ensure that their sport is clean and fair,” said Paul Melia, President and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. “We hope that other professional sport leagues will follow their example.”

Other Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sporthighlights for theJuly-September 2011 quarter include:

Sports Day in Canada
Presented by CBC Sports, ParticipACTION and True Sport, September 17 marked the second annual Sports Day in Canada, a national celebration of sport, from grassroots to high-performance levels, in communities across Canada. In the week leading up to Sports Day, thousands of local sporting events and activities, open houses and try-it days showcasing sport at all levels were hosted from coast to coast.

In celebration of Sports Day, True Sport challenged its members to make a difference in their communities by taking the True Sport Community Give-Back Challenge. Inspiring and heartwarming submissions were received from across the country in the form of videos, photos and written stories. During a CBC broadcast on Sports Day, the Platelet Disorder Support Association (PSDA) was announced the winner of the Give-Back Challenge for its entry, “Pump it Up for Platelets.” The PSDA (a non-profit organization), from Saint-Lambert, QC, was awarded $7,500 to continue living the True Sport Principles. For more information about the Sports Day in Canada and the Give-Back Challenge, visit http://sportsday.cbc.ca .

Major Games Guide
In preparation for the 2011 Pan American and Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, the Centre developed an interactive guide for Canadian athletes to provide them with important information, on doping control, education and supplements. To view the guide, visit www.cces.ca/en/majorgamesguide.

Doping Control Program Statistics
The CCES conducts testing under the domestic Canadian Anti-Doping Program and also provides doping control services for various national and international clients. The following table summarizes our activity during this quarter. Numbers include tests that are planned, coordinated, and/or collected by the CCES.

For details, see www.cces.ca/pdfs/CCES-MR-2011JulSepDetails-E.pdf.

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport is an independent, national, not-for profit organization. We recognize that true sport can make a great difference for individuals, communities and our country. We are committed to working collaboratively to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system; protecting the integrity of sport from the negative forces of doping and other unethical threats; and advocating for sport that is fair, safe and open to everyone. 

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