The ITU Anti-doping Team was recently in Singapore for the Youth Olympic Games where 24 of the 64 youth athletes were subjected to In-Competition testing.  For many of the athletes, it was the first time that they were participating in the Doping Control Process, which for some, included both urine and blood.  The athletes were given an anti-doping presentation during their athlete’s briefing. In addition to that educational seminar, the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) launched its Play True Generation Program in the World Cultural Village at the Youth Olympic Games Athlete’s Village. In the accompanying photo, ITU President Marisol Casado (IOC) and Joaquin Ballesteros show their support of the Play True Generation while visiting the YOG Athlete’s Village in Singapore last week.

According to WADA’s release prior to the Opening Ceremonies of the Youth Olympic Games, “The Program, which was piloted during the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, challenges young athletes to be a generation of clean athletes.

Just as its Athlete Outreach Program is a staple of Olympic and Paralympic Games Villages, WADA’s Play True Generation Center, located in the Village Square at the heart of the Singapore Youth Olympic Village, will be a place for athletes, coaches and entourage to learn more about anti-doping in a relaxed, fun environment.

For many athletes, the YOG will be their first experience with doping control and discussing anti-doping issues. The Play True Generation Center will be a place where athletes feel comfortable to ask questions and associate anti-doping with a positive experience.

In addition to WADA education staff, the Center will be staffed by anti-doping experts from around the world, including, Shuaib Mohammed Essa Al Zadijali (Doping Control Officer, Oman), Kellie Chamberlain (National Education Manager, Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority), Sara Fischer (WADA Athlete Committee Member), Sarah Fussek (Assistant to the Secretary General and Anti-Doping Administrator, International Ski Federation), and Nicholas Munyonga (Medical Commission, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee).

“The Play True Generation Program will be a unique experience for WADA and the young athletes attending these Games,” says WADA’s Director General David Howman. “This is our future generation of champions and sports leaders, and these young people will one day be at the forefront of the fight against doping in sport. The YOG is an excellent forum for engaging them in spreading the message of clean sport when they return home.”

Athletes will be rewarded for completing the Play True Challenge, a computer game where players see the consequences of the decisions they make–the game will be available in six languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, and Chinese). Athletes will also have the opportunity to take their pictures and add it to the design of the booth.

Check out ePlayTrue Magazine for more information about WADA’s activities at the Youth Olympic Games.

Visit WADA’s Facebook Page during the Games to follow WADA’s activities during the YOG.”

The ITU Anti-doping would like to congratulate all the athletes who competed at the Youth Olympic Games and especially those athletes who went through the doping control process for the first time.

If you have a question about ITU’s Anti-doping programme, please contact the ITU Anti-doping Director at {encode=“leslie.buchanan@triathlon.org” title=“leslie.buchanan@triathlon.org”}