Erdener Praises Early Success of Partnership with Anti-Doping Norway

Collaboration part of Turkey’s ongoing anti-doping commitment

Turkey; 18 June 2015: President of the Turkish Olympic Committee and WADA Executive Committee and Foundation Board member, Professor Dr. Ugur Erdener, has today praised the success of the recent partnership between Anti-Doping Norway (ADN) and the Turkish Anti-Doping Commission (TADC) in a pledge to stamp out drugs in Turkish sport.

The three-year cooperation agreement was signed between the TADC, ADN and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in April of this year in order to boost the implementation of Turkey’s anti-doping programmes. Under Professor Erdener’s leadership, Turkey’s anti-doping efforts resulted in an impressive decrease in detected prohibited substances from 12% in 2013 to 2.2% in 2014.

Professor Dr. Ugur Erdener said:

"Doping in sport is a global problem which the whole of the Olympic Movement and wider sporting family must tackle together. The Turkish Olympic Committee, the Turkish government and all sports authorities in Turkey have a zero-tolerance policy on doping in sport. Our strategy in the fight against doping is made up of two components: our top-down approach involves rigorous testing programmes and joint testing programmes with International Federations and WADA and our bottom-up approach focusses on education.

"Sport is in the fabric of Turkish society and we are committed to protecting its integrity. This partnership with Anti-Doping Norway and WADA is a statement from Turkey that we are absolutely committed to eradicating drugs from sport - both in Turkey, and around the world – which is why we were the first country to donate $250,000 to the IOC-WADA Research Fund earlier this year."

This collaboration with the ADN and WADA has seen the establishment of an official National Anti-Doping Organisation in Turkey for the first time.

TADC President Mr. Turker Arslan said:

"The development of an official National Anti-Doping Organisation in Turkey is an essential step to ensuring that we can become global leaders in the fight on doping. With Professor Erdener leading the way, and strong government backing for our anti-doping programmes, we are conducting more tests than ever before. Our results from 2013 to 2014 are indicative of a steep upwards trajectory for us in Turkey as we continue our success in catching cheats and preventing doping in sport; this partnership with the ADN and WADA will take our fight to the next level."

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