Antidoping education 2017

The antidoping awareness program 2017 was organized from 2nd to 6th April 2017 as part of the Junior and Cadet World Championships in Plovdiv (BUL), and was an excellent opportunity to inform and educate young fencers and their entourages from a variety of countries.

The program stand, located in an area shared with the Fair Play stand in the fencing hall, was made available free of charge by the Bulgarian Fencing Federation Organisation Committee. The two stands together created a very active, attractive area.

A lot of cadet and junior fencers (in addition to coaches) took part in the WADA’s “Franc jeu” (play fair) computer quiz, which has always been the centrepiece of this awareness event.

The FIE awarded money prizes to the winners of the daily prize draw, which fulfils an important role as it encourages young fencers to take part. Lots of fencers were already familiar with the computer quiz as they had taken part in it previously. The USB keys were very popular, and the 400 copies were given out. They contained a wealth of up-to-date educational documents, in particular a copy of the “Franc jeu” quiz, antidoping videos and educational brochures specially designed by the WADA

Fencers from 67 countries (up by 14% compared with 2016) participated in the quiz and took this opportunity to discuss doping problems.

A total of 561 participants – up by 60% compared with 2016 - (488 fencers, 43 coaches, 19 officials, 11 volunteers) took part in this successful awareness program.

The fencers were expressly asked to copy and share this information with their fencing colleagues on their return, together with coaches and officials from their fencing community, to encourage the spread of the anti-doping message throughout the world of fencing.

The doctors were particularly happy to share their space with the Fair Play stand so that they could work closely with this organisation for a common goal, namely to promote ideals of team spirit and fair play without doping.