Team doctors sign EURO anti-doping charter

The team doctors of the 24 national associations participating at UEFA EURO 2016 in France this summer have signed a charter pledging their total backing for UEFA's anti-doping strategy and confirming their commitment to a drug-free tournament.

The charter was signed at a ceremony in Paris, where the UEFA EURO 2016 finalists' workshop has been taking place to confirm organisational details ahead of the event, which starts on 10 June.

"As a team doctor of one of the participating associations, [I] will take all the necessary steps within my association to help UEFA achieve its mission to have a drug-free UEFA EURO 2016," the charter states.

"By signing [the charter], I confirm that doping will not be tolerated by our team management or medical staff and that all players representing my association at UEFA EURO 2016 will be educated accordingly. I agree to comply with the UEFA Anti-Doping Regulations and declare my unconditional support for the UEFA EURO 2016 anti-doping programme."

Ahead of and during UEFA EURO 2016, UEFA is conducting the largest testing programme ever implemented. Players from all 24 teams are being tested in and out of competition until the tournament starts, and blood and urine samples are being collected. Testing will continue in March before and during the international match week, in close conjunction with the participating countries' national anti-doping agencies (NADOs).

Doping controls will also take place at each of the 51 fixtures in France, with a minimum of two players from each team selected at every match to give blood and urine samples. Tests may also be undertaken between games. The samples will be tested by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory and players will be included in UEFA's biological passport programme.

"This means that everyone is united in their absolute will to have a EURO without doping," said UEFA Medical Committee chairman Dr Michel D'Hooghe. "Not only UEFA’s Medical Committee and the UEFA anti-doping panel. We all have the same intention - every team doctor signing the charter has approved UEFA’s strategy of zero tolerance towards doping."