Summary of Anti-Doping Activities during Season 2021/22

In April 2021, the UK Government and devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland implemented a revised UK National Anti-Doping Policy (‘the Policy’). 

The National Governing Bodies of Sport (‘NGBs’) for every sport across the UK are obligated to comply with the mandatory requirements set out within the Policy.  To assist NGB’s compliance, UK Anti-Doping (‘UKAD’), the UK’s National Anti-Doping Organisation, developed and launched an Assurance Framework (‘the Framework’) which encompasses all requirements of the Policy and is broken into six key areas:

Organisation & Governance

Legal

Education

Communications

Intelligence & Investigations

Testing

Throughout Season 2021/22, the Scottish FA’s administration has been working hard to ensure compliance with all mandatory requirements of the Framework including:

• Appointing and training a Board Anti-Doping Lead and ensuring that anti-doping is discussed regularly at Board level
  
  
• Developing improved communication plans in respect of Anti-Doping information and activities
  
  
• Demonstrating fulfilment of key obligations in terms of the legal, governance, jurisdiction and regulatory requirements of the Policy
  
  
• Developing a Scottish FA Anti-Doping Education Strategy

One of the most significant elements of this work over the course of the Season has been the drafting of the Anti-Doping Education Strategy.  The strategy was recently approved by UKAD and implementation will begin straight away, with the first education delivery planned to take place ahead of Season 2022/23.

The initial phase of the strategy will be rolled out over the following 12-18 months, with a revised longer-term education strategy introduced thereafter.