Between Prevention and Repression: Roles and Responsibilities of the Czech Olympic Committee in Anti-Doping Education : Charles University in Prague Faculty of Law Research Paper No. 2021/II/5
Abstract
Anti-doping organizations overestimate the role of deterrence and repression and underestimate the role of prevention and education, which is a partial conclusion of the author's doctoral research. Therefore, the author examines in this paper how anti-doping organizations should streamline education to reduce such imbalances. The author particularly focuses on the Czech Olympic Committee ("Czech NOC"), with which he has been in cooperation for five years. The author clarifies and establishes the role of Czech NOC in anti-doping education. He also formulates recommendations on how Czech NOC should effectively and sustainably exercise its educational responsibilities. The paper combines empirical and conceptual methods and uses both qualitative and quantitative data. The author argues that NOC plays an important role in anti-doping education, which is based on cooperation with the Czech Anti-Doping Committee ("Czech NADO"), Czech National Federations ("Czech NF"), athletes and other anti-doping stakeholders. The primary responsibility of Czech NOC in anti-doping education is to cooperate with Czech NADO, mainly to ensure that all athletes and their support personnel receive education before participating in the Olympic Games, or any event where Czech NOC participates or which it hosts. Moreover, Czech NOC should cooperate with Czech NFs and require them to conduct education in coordination with Czech NADO. The author also recommends how Czech NOC should simultaneously plan, implement, and annually evaluate its education program, in cooperation with athletes, Czech NADO, Czech NFs and other stakeholders. Moreover, the author identifies four main strengths of Czech NOC in anti-doping education that it should use while exercising its responsibilities: (1) a good relationship with top athletes and related possibility to involve them in planning and delivery of the education as well as the potential to effectively influence target groups; (2) a unique position within the sporting environment; (3) the power of the Olympic brand and properties; and (4) the cultural context. As such, Czech NOC can fulfil its roles and responsibilities in anti-doping education, promote behaviour in line with the values of clean sport and help to prevent athletes and other persons from doping.