In the field of anti-doping in sport, Montenegro is increasingly positioning itself as an example of good practice, with a particular focus on education and prevention from an early age. The anti-doping education model developed by the Montenegrin Anti-Doping Commission has attracted the attention of the international expert community and prominent figures from the world of sports journalism.

One of the world’s most renowned sports journalists, Tracey Holmes, has expressed interest in the reform steps being implemented by the Montenegrin Anti-Doping Commission, describing them as innovative and rare on a global scale. On this occasion, Holmes interviewed the Director of the Anti-Doping Commission, Ms. Neda Ojdanić, discussing the importance of the implemented reforms, the challenges in the fight against doping, and examples of good practice that Montenegro is introducing in this field.

Tracey Holmes Tracey Holmes is regarded as one of the most influential sports journalists in the world and a pioneer of women’s sports journalism. She began her career in 1989 at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), where she became the first woman to host a national sports program in Australia. Over more than three decades, she has reported from the world’s biggest sporting events, including as many as 14 Olympic Games.

Her journalism is recognized for its in-depth analysis of the relationship between sport, politics, business, and human rights, and for her exceptional professional contribution she has received numerous international awards. For this reason, her interest in the development of Montenegro’s anti-doping system carries particular significance.

“In Montenegro, anti-doping has already entered secondary schools through educational workshops aimed at raising students’ awareness of the importance of anti-doping, with continuous efforts underway to further develop this approach. Such a step is not common and represents an important move toward the systematic building of an anti-doping culture,” Holmes emphasized.

The Director of the Montenegrin Anti-Doping Commission, Neda Ojdanić, a long-standing educator with extensive experience working in educational institutions, explained that the primary motivation for these activities is the need to familiarize young athletes in a timely manner with anti-doping rules and health risks.

“During testing, I noticed that elite athletes generally have solid knowledge of anti-doping, but that the youngest athletes in the system often lack sufficient information. That is precisely why we decided to start anti-doping education at an earlier stage,” said Ojdanić.

In this regard, the Montenegrin Anti-Doping Commission has already established cooperation with one of the most prestigious secondary schools in Montenegro (the “Slobodan Škerović” Gymnasium), while at the same time holding discussions with higher education institutions to present the importance and benefits of integrating anti-doping education into the academic framework. The goal of these activities is to establish joint cooperation and identify models that would, in the long term, contribute to the education of future athletes, coaches, and sports professionals.

“Our intention is to provide young people with knowledge that will help them understand not only the rules and sanctions, but also the serious health consequences that the use of prohibited substances can have,” emphasized the Director of the Commission.

The objective of this approach is to create a generation of athletes, coaches, and sports professionals who will understand the anti-doping system as an integral part of sports education, ethics, and responsibility.

Finally, Tracey Holmes noted that Montenegro’s initiative goes beyond national boundaries:
„“What Montenegro is doing is not important only for your country, it is important for the entire world of sport.”.“