The primary focus of this year's President's Report can be stated in a simple message: "Cheating, by using steroids and other drugs, is unacceptable within the IFBB and will not be tolerated". Athletes who commit doping offences will be severely disciplined. Moreover, National Federations will also be held accountable for ensuring that their athletes compete drug-free.
In 1998, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized the IFBB pursuant to Rule 29 of the Olympic Charter. When it did so, it invigorated the IFBB's program to combat doping in our sport and, at the same time, affirmed our belief that all sports, bodybuilding included, must address this challenge head-on by using every scientific, economic, and political tool at our disposal to succeed in the worldwide fight against doping in sport.
The IFBB has followed strict doping rules for many years. However, immediately after we obtained Provisional Recognition from the IOC, I decided that we needed to redouble our efforts to remove these unwelcome elements from bodybuilding. At that time, the IFBB adopted, and aggressively applied, the Olympic Movement Anti-Doping Code, as well as its own Doping Control Policy and Anti-Doping Program.
Bodybuilding is by no means the first sport to face this issue; nor will it be the last. The war against performance-enhancing drugs in sport has dragged on for decades; has cost millions of dollars, and has produced fewer victories than hoped. This is why the IOC is expanding its Anti-Doping Program and is vigorously enforcing its rules.
No issue cuts to the heart of the Olympics, or sports in general, like doping. It runs counter to the ideal of fair play. Doping threatens to erode the collective credibility of sport and damages the ultimate goal of having all athletes participate on a level playing field.
The individual costs exacted by drug use are no less destructive. Athletes are sometimes unaware of the enormous risks they take with their health by using drugs in their quest to win at all costs. The use of steroids can cause a variety of irreversible physical and psychological problems that cast a permanent shadow over the lives of users. On the other hand, many athletes are blessed not only with physical prowess but also with a deeply ingrained sense of sportsmanship. These exemplary men and women never consider tainting their victories by using performance-enhancing drugs. They are to be commended and it is my sincere hope that many others will follow their truly remarkable example.
Some national and international sport governing bodies seek to avoid embarrassment by covering up athletes who test positive. I believe that turning a blind eye to these problems only exacerbates the issue. Make no mistake about it - we are addressing this problem squarely and will not be satisfied until our goals are achieved.
We are taking significant steps towards the elimination of doping in bodybuilding by employing random, unannounced, out-of-competition testing, which all experts agree is the best deterrent. Stiff penalties have been introduced to punish athletes who use drugs and to sanction National Federations that fail to prevent drug use.
The penalties regarding drug use in the IFBB are simple and ironclad. They are:
For a first offense, the athlete's National Federation is fined US $2,000.00 per positive test. If there are more than three positives per year for any National Federation, that federation will be suspended.
This year, we have seen several encouraging examples that demonstrate the success of the IFBB's Anti-Doping Program. These are the results:
In the European Men's Bodybuilding Championships, which were organized in Baku, Azerbaijan during May 2001, the IOC-accredited Anti-Doping Center in Moscow, Russia, tested 18 athletes. None of the athletes tested positive for banned substances.
In the South East Asian Bodybuilding Championships, which were organized in Mandaue City, Ceba, Philippines during June 2001, 10 athletes were tested. The results, as reported by the IOC-accredited laboratory in Penang, Malaysia, stated, "The analysis according to the methods approved by the Medical Commission of the International Olympic Committee showed that there were no banned substances."
In the European Women's Mixed Pairs and Fitness Championships, which were organized in Kiev, Ukraine in May 2001, 20 athletes were tested. The results, as reported by the IOC-accredited Anti-Doping Center in Moscow, Russia, stated, "The result of analysis has shown that the forbidden doping substances were not detected in the analyzed samples".
Out-of-competition tests were performed on 18 athletes by the Doping Control Center in Penang, Malaysia. The report stated, "No substance banned by the Medical Commission of the International Olympic Committee was detected in any of the samples".
These results prove categorically that the IFBB is making steady progress. By no means are we finished, but I take tremendous pride in the success achieved thus far.
Although the results may not be the same in all IFBB competitions, we are gaining ground and momentum. I assure you that I am bringing the firmest resolve to this issue and that the IFBB will continue to implement an aggressive and comprehensive Doping Control Program. National Federations that are negligent should consider themselves warned: You will lose your affiliation unless you are firmly unyielding in your stance against doping.
Despite the gravity of this subject, we have much to be positive about in the world of bodybuilding and fitness. More countries than ever before are part of our international federation. More athletes in other sports are turning to bodybuilding methods to enhance their performance. In addition, more and more reports are published that validate the vast health benefits brought about by bodybuilding - benefits that cannot be encapsulated in a pill.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Vice Presidents and all other members of the Executive Council, as well as the national presidents, for their continued support and diligent effort to assure that bodybuilding continues to grow and becomes ever more popular while at the same time working to eradicate the unwelcome elements in our sport.
Sincerely yours,
Ben Weider, C.M., C.Q., SBStJ, Ph.D.
*The IFBB wishes to thank the Austrialian Sports Drug Agency for the doping control artwork and the National Institute on Drug Abuse for the male and female "steroids" artwork used on this page.
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