The Anti-Doping Commission had an active participation in the 33rd Balkan Championship for Athletic Veterans, held from September 27 to 29, 2024 in Bar, organized by the Association of Athletic Veterans of Montenegro and the Athletic Federation of Montenegro. At the championship, which brought together more than 700 competitors ranging in age from 35 to 85, from 25 countries who competed on the grounds of SC Topolica, the Anti-Doping Commission conducted two doping controls during the championship, as part of its continuing mission to combat the use of prohibited substances in sports.

On this occasion, the Director of the Anti-Doping Commission, Dr. Olivera Prodanović, emphasized that such actions play a key role in the prevention of doping. “Our work is not only repressive, but also educational. Our goal is for athletes of all ages to understand how important it is to preserve their integrity and compete fairly,” said Prodanović.

The mentioned controls were carried out in accordance with the technical standards of BAMA (Balkan Association of Masters Athletes), and in cooperation with the technical director of BAMA, Damjan Gril, and the vice-president of BAMA, Aycan Kurtcan. The goal of these controls was to ensure fair play and preserve the integrity of the sport, while promoting clean sports competition.

Director Prodanović particularly emphasized the importance of cooperation with the President of the Association of Athletic Veterans of Montenegro, Dejan Živković, in promoting clean sports. “This championship is important not only because of the sporting spirit that gathers veterans from the region and beyond, but also because of our common goal – preserving the integrity of sports competitions. Fair play and clean sport are the fundamental principles of every competition, regardless of age or level of competition,” Prodanović pointed out. She concluded that the Anti-Doping Commission will continue to support sports competitions in Montenegro, as well as to improve anti-doping controls in order to ensure a high standard of sports behaviour at all levels.

In order to provide athletes with the best conditions for fair competition and health protection, the Anti-Doping Commission and the Institute of Blood Transfusion of Montenegro signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement, recognizing the importance of professional and scientific support, enables the implementation of advanced anti-doping activities in accordance with international standards.

Director of the Commission, Dr. Olivera Prodanović, and Director of the Institute, Dr. Tamara Šćepanović, assessed that this initiative, which includes thorough training and practical application, ensures a high level of professionalism and efficiency in the fight against doping.

“The choice of cooperation with the Institute of Blood Transfusion of Montenegro was a logical step considering their expertise and experience in the field of hematology. Their team, led by Dr. Šćepanović, possesses the necessary competencies and enthusiasm that are key to the implementation of anti-doping activities. Our goal is to provide the highest standards in testing and preserving the health of athletes through this cooperation, and the support and expertise of the Institute of Blood Transfusion guarantee that we will succeed in this,” said Director Prodanović.

She said that Dr. Marina Sekulić, Dr. Đorđe Zogović, Tamara Gogić, Danijela Mihaljević, Miroslav Leković, Sanja Radošević are an exceptional team and an excellent addition to the expert associates of the Anti-Doping Commission.

“With further improvement and gaining experience, he will undoubtedly prove themself on the international level as well”, added Prodanović.

Director of the Institute Dr. Tamara Šćepanović, pointed out the importance of involving the employees of that institution in modern professional and scientific streams.

“Through intensive workshops and lectures by sports health and anti-doping experts, our staff will be better equipped to support the health and integrity of athletes and ensure fairness and safety in sport. The Institute remains committed to the continuous professional development of its employees in order to provide the highest level of health care and contribute to the fight against doping in sports,” said Dr. Šćepanović.

Prodanović is specified that the cooperation between the two institutions was also strengthened through training for the implementation of the hematology module, which was organized this month in Vienna, with the support of the mentoring Anti-Doping Agency of Austria (NADA Austria).

“The topics were doping control of blood samples, athlete’s biological passport, international standard for testing and investigations, guidelines for sample collection. The next segment of the training will be in the form of practical application during the collection of blood samples”, specified Prodanović.

The further goals of this cooperation are more far-reaching than the simple high-quality implementation of the necessary doping controls. Our goal is to build a culture of sport based on integrity, honesty and ethics, and to inspire the next generation of athletes to strive for excellence without resorting to illicit means.

The Anti-Doping Commission of Montenegro began with doping control of blood samples, thus entering a new phase of implementation of the International Standard for Testing and Investigations in Montenegro.

“According to the recommendations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Montenegro has started recording biological passports and hematological parameters. Through the activities of the Montenegrin team and Austrian colleagues, blood samples and a sample for the biological passport were collected from four top athletes in Podgorica, Kotor and Nikšić and sent for analysis to the accredited WADA laboratory in Vienna”, said the Director of the Anti-Doping Commission Dr. Olivera Prodanović, reminding that the NADA Austria is the mentoring institution of Montenegrin NADO.

The results and values ​​of the hematological and steroid profile, explained Prodanović, will be in the ADAMS database.

“Following the achievements of our athletes, it became necessary for the Anti-Doping Commission to implement this segment of the International Standard for Testing and Investigations in Montenegro. This fulfills part of WADA’s requirements related to compliance with the Anti-Doping Code, as well as the requirements of international Anti-Doping Conventions of UNESCO and the Council of Europe. Of course, this highlights the essential importance of stable financing of the Anti-Doping Commission, which unfortunately is not the case now,” said Director Prodanović.

She said that the recently started cooperation with the mentoring Anti-Doping Agency of Austria and the Institute for Blood Transfusion of Montenegro, contributes extremely to the successful implementation of the hematology program and indicates that the national anti-doping organization is reaching a new, higher level of development, in which the demands are increasing.

“The mentorship of the Anti-Doping Agency of Austria significantly contributes to the work of the Anti-Doping Commission in the implementation of standards, directing the improvement of work and requirements in this area, and examples of good practice indicate that there is room for development in our national framework”, adds Prodanović.  

In Montenegro, she recalled, the Anti-Doping Commission has so far conducted doping controls through urine samples.

“With the introduction of blood doping controls, our activities become even more professional and serious, which shows that we are ready to improve practice and contribute to preserving the integrity of athletes at the highest level”, points out Prodanović.

Prodanović expressed her gratitude to the Ministry of Health for the support it provides to anti-doping activities, stating that the two institutions share a common goal, which is to preserve the health of athletes.

ANTIDOPING COMMISSION OF MONTENEGRO

Svih četvoro crnogorskih sportista koji učestvuju na Paraolimpijskim igrama u Parizu uspješno je prošlo antidoping testove koje je, u sklopu priprema, sprovela Komisija za antidoping Crne Gore.

Naime, prije polaska na Paraolimpijske igre 2024, prateći preporuke Međunarodnog olimpijskog komiteta i Međunarodne agencije za testiranje (ITA) za nacionalne antidoping organizacije, crnogorska Komisija za antidoping je uspješno realizovala planirane aktivnosti vezane za edukaciju i testiranje sportista.

“Čist sport, zaštita integriteta sportista i naročito zaštita njihovog zdravlja je naš zajednički cilj. To je takođe bio i glavni motiv za realizaciju ovog zadatka. Primjenjujući Međunarodne standarde Svjetske antidoping agencije (WADA), četiri uzoraka naših paraolimpijskih sportista je analizirano u WADA akreditovanoj laboratoriji u Beču i došli su negativni rezultati za sve, što znači da su svi uspješno prošli antidoping testove”, kazala je direktorica Komisija za antidoping dr Olivera Prodanović.

Podsjećamo, Crnu Goru će na Paraolimpijskim igrama u Parizu, koje počinju sjutra i traju do 8. septembra, predstavljati četvoro sportista u tri sporta. Nastupiće stonoteniseri Filip Radović i Luka Bakić, atletičarka Maja Rajković i strijelac Milan Đinović.

“Naši paraolimpijski sportisti predstavljaju izvor velikog ponosa za našu zemlju, ne samo zbog svojih izuzetnih sportskih postignuća, već i zbog posvećenosti najvišim standardima integriteta u sportu. Smatramo da su edukacija i redovno testiranje ključni u osiguravanju čistog sporta i očuvanju zdravlja sportista. Zahvaljujemo svim Paraolimpijskom komitetu i sportistima na njihovoj predanosti i podršci. Naša vizija je da Crna Gora bude uzor u borbi za čist sport. Nastavićemo da budemo uz naše paraolimpijce i njihove timove tokom Paraolimpijskih igara, s ciljem da zajedno ostvarimo vrhunske rezultate, ne odstupajući od principa fair play-a i brige o zdravlju,” izjavila je direktorica Prodanović.

KOMISIJA ZA ANTIDOPING

On behalf of the anti-doping and athlete community in our countries, we seek clarity and understanding on the extent of the implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code in countries of big sport nations.

Based on the data recently provided by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which has also been raised as a concern since the inception of the Code, it is alarming to us, that athletes competing at a very high level such as the college sports system and professional leagues, are not bound by the provisions of World Anti-Doping Code.

Also, based on the available data, the numbers of samples collected in some of these countries are concerning in relation to the number of athletes taking part in major sporting events such as Olympic Games and World Championships and we are deeply concerned that those athletes apparently are not being sufficiently tested prior to major sporting events.

For the best interest of the athletes around the world and taking into account the concerns of our athletes who want to be sure that there is a level playing field for them when they compete, we encourage WADA to conduct an in-depth assessment of the anti-doping systems in countries in which professional leagues and academic sport are not covered by the World Anti-Doping Code and to take necessary actions.

Part of our mission as NADOs is to actively support and pursue the harmonization of the anti-doping rules globally, since the only way to guarantee a level playing field for athletes worldwide, is for all of us to be held at the same high standard. As such our group of 31 NADOs/RADO recognizes the role of WADA in coordinating and leading the anti-doping landscape and we thus turn to you to consider the concerns of our athletes, which we regard as an expression of our commitment to clean sport.

On 15 of July Uzbekistan NADO decided to join us, it means that the final number of supporting ADO increased to 32.

The full list of NADOs/RADO:

1. Africa Zone VI RADO

2. Albania – National Antidoping Organization of Albania

3. Armenia – Anti-Doping Agency SNCO of Armenia (ARM-NADO)

4. Austria – Nationale Anti-Doping Agentur Austria (NADA)

5. Bosnia and Herzegovina – Agency for Antidoping Control of Bosnia and Herzegovina

6. Bulgaria – Anti-Doping Centre

7. Cape Verde – National Anti-Doping Organization of Cape Verde (ONAD-CV)

8. Cameroon – Organisation Camerounaise de Lutte contre le Dopage en Sport (OCALUDS)

9. Croatia – Croatian Institute of Public Health

10. Cyprus – Cyprus Anti-Doping Authority

11. Czech Republic – Anti-Doping Committee of the Czech Republic

12. Egypt – Egyptian NADO

13. Ethiopia – Ethiopian Anti-doping Authority (ETH-ADA)

14. Georgia – Georgian Anti-Doping Agency

15. Hungary – Hungarian Anti-Doping Group (HUNADO)

16. Kosovo – Kosovo Anti-Doping Agency (KosADA)

17. Montenegro – Montenegro Antidoping Commission

18. North Macedonia – National Anti-Doping Commission

19. Moldova – National Antidoping Agency of the Republic of Moldova

20. Poland – Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA)

21. Portugal – Autoridade Antidopagem de Portugal (ADoP)

22. Romania – National Anti-Doping Agency of Romania

23. San Marino – NADO San Marino

24. Saudi Arabia – Saudi Anti-Doping Committee

25. Senegal – Organisation nationale antidopage du Sénégal

26. Serbia – Antidoping Agency of Serbia (ADAS)

27. Slovakia – Slovak Anti-Doping Agency (SADA)

28. Slovenia – Slovenian Anti-Doping Organisation (SLOADO)

29. Sudan – Sudanese Anti-Doping Agency

30. Türkiye – Turkish Anti-Doping Commission

31. Ukraine – National Anti-Doping Center of Ukraine (NADC)

32. Uzbekistan – National Anti-Doping Organisation (UzNADO)

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding between NADA Austria and the Montenegrin Anti-Doping Commission, which was concluded in 2024, the director Dr. Olivera Prodanović and several doctors and laboratory employees who will be working as doping control officers in Montenegro in the future, meet in the offices of NADA Austria in Vienna from July 16-17, 2024.

The focus of the meeting was on the implementation of doping controls and results management.

Mag. Michael Cepic, CEO of NADA Austria: “NADA Austria’s mentoring for Montenegrin colleagues is developing very well.  With our experience from 16 years of anti-doping work, we can help to establish and further develop anti-doping work in Montenegro.”. So far, several working meetings have taken place in Vienna and Podgorica as part of the mentoring program with the aim of providing the Montenegrin colleagues with the best possible support in implementing all the requirements and guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Code.

Conference entitled “The importance of physical activity, nutrition and rehabilitation on the psycho-physical health of athletes and recreational athletes, the potential for the development of health tourism – ARIST”, organized by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montenegro with the support of the Innovation Fund of Montenegro, Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Economic Development and Development of the North, and the Anti-Doping Commission, will be held on May 14, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the amphitheater of the Faculty of Medicine Podgorica.

The Conference is organized in order to present an innovative educational project financed by the Innovation Fund of Montenegro and to promote the obtained results in the fields of health, sports and tourism. In this way, we want to point out the importance of establishing and maintaining cooperation between different sectors of society – academic, public, business and civil sectors, all in order to ensure quality support to civil society at different levels.

Successful examples of intersectoral cooperation will be presented at the Conference, and how important this cooperation is, whether it is strong enough and what needs to be done to establish a sustainable system for supporting civil society in Montenegro will be discussed. 

The Anti-Doping Commission is proud to be one of the partners in this project, points out Dr. Olivera Prodanović, Director of the Anti-Doping Commission.