Anti-Doping: BE completes UKAD Assurance Framework

Basketball England is delighted to announce its completion of the Assurance Framework, which National Governing Bodies (NGBs) must fulfil to certify to UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) that they are meeting their anti-doping responsibilities. 

The work was led by BE’s Delivery Manager for Coaching Brian Aldred, who also serves as the organisation’s lead for anti-doping. In order to meet the requirements of the framework, Safeguarding and Compliance Manager Laura Middleton and Chief Operations Officer Duncan Whalley were heavily involved, overseeing necessary policy changes for both governance and membership where required.  

CEO Stewart Kellett, Chair Matt Neville and board member Matt Newby were also involved in the completion of the framework. 

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published the updated 2021 UK National Anti-Doping Policy in April last year , which all NGBs must be compliant with. This was the first update of the Policy since its implementation in 2009. 

UKAD, which is responsible for ensuring that sports bodies comply with the World Anti-Doping Code through its implementation and management of the Policy, introduced the Assurance Framework for NGBs to be able to evidence their compliance with the Policy. 

The introduction of the Assurance Framework is the most significant change in the Policy. It outlines a series of mandatory requirements which all NGBs must fulfil. These requirements include the creation of an education strategy and plan, the implementation of anti-doping rules and increased involvement of an NGB’s Board with clean sport. 

Upon completion of the Assurance Framework, Aldred said:

“Basketball England is committed to Clean Sport and the part we have to play in protecting the integrity of our sport. 

“We are delighted to have met the criteria to confirm our compliance with the UKAD Assurance Framework.   

“Throughout this process we have been able to review all our policies and procedures to ensure we are delivering best practice for anti-doping." 

UKAD’s Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Nisha Dutt, said:

“We are delighted to see Basketball England complete the new UKAD Assurance Framework.  

“The Assurance Framework allows NGBs to demonstrate their plans to help protect the integrity of sport.  

“Our dedicated Assurance and Education teams have been working to support BE through this process. This includes the creation of a specific anti-doping education strategy, which outlines how BE will embed clean sport values into their sport. 

“We would like to thank Basketball England for making great strides in completing this important framework, formally demonstrating its compliance with the UK National Anti-Doping Policy and commitment to clean sport.”  

For more information on the Policy and Assurance Framework, visit the UKAD website. 

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