Over the past few months we have been pushing forward with completing the requirements of the UK Anti Doping (UKAD) assurance framework.
About UKAD:
UKAD is the body responsible to try and ensure that all athletes of any sport are not doping. And that they are able to compete in their chosen sport confident that they are not competing against athletes who cheat by doping. Doping is the use of prohibited drugs and substances taken to unfairly or artificially enhance performance in sport.
UKAD administer in the UK the list of “prohibited substances” which is produced by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The list is updated annually. It one of the roles of our team managers to ensure our surfers are aware of the listed substances.
What this means for Surfing England
As a governing body it is Surfing England’s role to ensure that we have all the administrative function, advice, information policies, codes and disciplinary process in place. To ensure that all our members and especially our National and Internationally competing athletes are fully aware of all their obligations towards clean sport.
This includes what doping means, what is on the prohibited list and what the consequences of taking drugs in sports means both in terms of its effect on other athletes, their sport and to athletes personally including, if they are caught being banned from ANY sport for 4 years.
The assurance framework is an extensive web-based information system which ensures that any NGB (National Governing Body) meets all the requirements of UKAD. And are able to demonstrate competence in its ability to execute its responsibilities as a NGB in ensuring its sport is clean of doping.
In Clean Sport Week
Surfing England supported UKAD “Clean Sport” week 2025 which ran from the 19th – 25th of May. Clean Sport Week is UKAD’s national awareness campaign championing clean sport, education and anti-doping initiatives with sports across the UK.
As part of our support for Clean Sport week we included Clean Sport promotional material through our social media posts. We also delivered a bespoke workshop for our Team England Junior squad. The aim was to develop understanding of what clean sport means and what part they can play in making surfing a clean sport. After the workshop they will complete the Athletes Clean Sport Plus course. When they pass the course, they will be issued with a UKAD certificate.
In the following weeks we will be running workshops for our Open and Para Squads.
You can access the Clean Sport webpage here https://www.ukad.org.uk/clean-sport-week
A summary of our anti-doping information is available in the policies and resources section of our website here.
