§ 27. Mr McKelveyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to(a) the current annual cost of drug testing in British sport, (b) how many positive results have been reported and (c) what action was taken in respect of them.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe 1988–89 doping control budget allocations of the four United Kingdom sports councils total £674,000 of which approximately £500,000 will be spent on their testing programmes. Since 1 April, when the implementation of the new drug testing regime began, analysis of initial samples taken from sportsmen and women have produced 12 adverse findings, the majority of which relate to instances where a banned substance such as codeine had been taken in small dose as medication. However, three cases are proceeding to further investigation and governing body decisions on appropriate action will be taken once this process has been completed. Any action they do take will be considered by the independent review panel set to monitor the operation of the drug testing programme and of governing body actions.