§ Mr. Haywardasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's attitude towards the Council of Europe's draft anti-doping charter for sport which is to be considered at the conference of European Ministers for sport in Malta next month.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe use of drugs to aid performance is one of the most serious issues affecting sport. It offends the essential ethic of sport and can also prejudice the health of the sportsmen and women involved, especially in the longer term. The pressures to succeed are, however, enormous and drug abuse can be properly countered only by concerted international action. I welcome therefore the initiative of the Council of Europe in preparing a draft anti-doping charter for Governments and sport in western Europe. The Sports Council's decision to use the powers available to it to oblige governing bodies to introduce random testing is consistent with the provisions of the draft charter addressed to Governments. This decision confirms that the Sports Council is continuing to give a clear and firm lead in combating drug abuse. I hope that other countries and the international sporting organisations will now follow the examples set by the Sports Council and by the Council of Europe.