“The Council of Europe has pioneered the fight against doping at international level, with a first Resolution adopted already in 1967 by our Committee of Ministers. The Anti-Doping Convention that followed was the first legally-binding text on this subject”, said Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, while opening the meeting on the current challenges in protecting human rights of athletes in the context of the fight against doping in sport.
A high-level debate between sportspersons’ representatives and Council of Europe Human rights’ bodies highlighted international challenges in the framework of current normative standards for safeguarding athletes’ rights, in particular with regard to access to justice and fair trial.
Minister of Children and Equality of Norway, WADA Vice President Linda Hofstad Helleland also provided an opening statement. Keynote interview was delivered by Marco Van Basten (Chief Technical Development Officer at FIFA and former football player for Dutch national team) with Jan Åge Fjørtoft (former Norwegian football player). A roundtable discussion was moderated by Anders Solheim, Chair of the Monitoring Group to the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention.
“Today is an opportunity for our Organisation, athletes and their representatives to discuss what further progress might be made – progress towards a sporting world in which doping has no place, confidence is restored, and the rights of our sportspeople are respected and upheld”, concluded Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni.
The issue of athletes’ human rights will also be addressed by the Monitoring Group to the Anti-Doping Convention, with a view to preparing a debate at the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for sports which will take place in Georgia in October.
