Education on doping dangers

"You'd be a fool to take drugs" – a stark warning given by UEFA in educating young football players about the dangers and consequences of doping.

Every year, the European body holds education sessions for all of the teams at each of its men's and women’s U19 and U17 final rounds, as well as at the UEFA Youth League finals – and the youngsters are offered an unequivocal message: "Doping can ruin your career, even before it has properly begun."

They receive a clear briefing about every facet of the issue; what they should and should not do, and what the penalties can be if they are guilty of committing violations of the anti-doping rules. The warning is aimed to have a telling deterrent impact.

"Players have to understand that doping is cheating and is dangerous for their health," says UEFA head of medical and anti-doping Marc Vouillamoz. "It is important that effective anti-doping education is delivered to the players, team officials and team doctors in order to protect our sport."

Players are encouraged to find out which substances are banned, and to ask their doctor, non-governmental organisation (NADO) or UEFA if they have any doubts. The rule of strict liability becomes crystal clear to them – they are always responsible for their actions.

The sessions emphasise that players can unintentionally run into potential problems in the event of illness or injury. For example, a product may have the same name and same packaging in two different places, but might contain different contents – one of which could lead to a doping violation and be detected in a doping test.

The youngsters are urged to check, and check again, before taking any medication, not to use someone else's medicine, and not to keep secrets – team doctors must know if they are taking medication.

Young players are felt to be especially vulnerable to the lure of recreational drugs. UEFA tells them that all such drugs – including cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy – are prohibited. What is more, these drugs have long retention times in a person's system, and a positive test will see a player punished.

UEFA pulls no punches, highlighting the consequences of doping on a player's health and well-being, as well as on a budding career – suspension, contract termination, impacts on future employment, and damage to a team, family or friends.

Vouillamoz adds: "National associations and clubs also have a key role in the prevention of doping, by taking the matter seriously and organising regular education sessions with their teams and players, using the material provided by UEFA, or with the support of their NADOs if more appropriate." Doctors within UEFA's associations have received anti-doping training as part of UEFA's Football Doctor Education Programme.

The crucial education sessions always close with photos of prominent sports stars who have committed doping offences. The young footballers are left in no doubt by the message on the screen: "Doping scandals are big news in the media – make sure it's not you in this picture…"