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26 Nov 2009 11:56:51
Professor John Brewer is on a crusade to make British sport free of the drugs cheats.
He has been invited by the Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe, to be a board member of a new independent body, United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD). The appointment is for an initial term of three years.
UKAD has taken over responsibility from UK Sport for overseeing the drug testing and anti-doping strategy in British sport.
Weeks after being appointed to the National Olympic Committee, the new Professor of Sport at the University is continuing to put Bedfordshire on the map. He also became chairman of the British Handball Association in May this year, ready for the sport’s involvement in the 2012 London Olympics.
UKAD is fully funded by the Government through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and has full responsibility for all anti-doping policies, education and testing in the UK, incorporating both professional and Olympic sports.
It has appointed its first CEO, Andy Parkinson, and established a board to be chaired by the former Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, David Kenworthy.
Professor Brewer said: “I believe that this is a great opportunity to further enhance the esteem of the University, and to continue raising its profile within UK elite sport.
“We must fight those who cheat by taking banned substances, so that they are caught and punished, enabling the vast majority who don’t cheat to compete fairly.”
He has also been asked to set up and chair an ‘Athletes’ Committee’ which will consist of elite performers from a range of sports.
Professor Brewer said: “The committee will enable athletes to feed back their views and issues on anti-doping, while being kept up-to-date with all anti-doping legislation and policies.”
He started as Professor of Sport at the University in September and is based in the new Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
Professor Brewer had been Director of Sport Science and Communications at GlaxoSmithKline, working within the Lucozade Sport brand, for the last five years.
He said: “My involvement in the area of drug testing and anti-doping was shaped by my time at GlaxoSmithKline, when I headed its programme of supplement screening and the provision of drug-free sports nutrition products.
“I also believe that my appointment is due to my current role at the University, and ensures that we are engaging with British sport at the highest level.”
Professor Brewer was also Head of Sport Science at the Football Association from 1988-1993 and then he became Director of the National Sports Injury and Human Performance Centre at Lilleshall for 11 years (1993-2004).
Latest news» 2009» November» Professor Brewer aims to clean up British sport
