You are viewing the seventh Annual Report from the Anti-Doping Authority of the Netherlands. This is the second Annual Report to be published exclusively in digital form.
2012 was the year when the American cyclist Lance Armstrong was found guilty of a range of doping offences committed over a long period of time. The media and the public were so gripped by this story during the latter half of the year that attitudes towards the anti-doping policy began to change.
Media pressure on our organisation became even more intense as a result of the Armstrong case. In the closing months of the year, media interest increased to such an extent that it was impossible to respond to all the requests for information and comment. Nevertheless, the numerous contacts with the media resulted in an extremely large number of publications and broadcasts that included the Doping Authority's views and the information we provided.
Towards the end of the year, there were parliamentary questions about the resources and powers available to the Doping Authority for its work, and a motion was passed that was intended, among other things, to improve coordination between the various ministries with regard to doping issues. In part as a result of this media and political pressure, we expect the Doping Authority to be granted more resources and powers in the coming years so that we will be in a better position than now to bring even the highly complex cases to a successful conclusion.
However, in the 2012 financial year, we were still coping with the consequences of the cuts in previous years. We maintained our services - albeit often with difficulty - at the same level as in 2011. Digital information has come to play an increasing role in our prevention activities and, at the same time, the services we provide to the sports associations - assistance with disciplinary procedures, for example - have been given the highest possible priority.
In close consultation with the NOC*NSF, the scope of the control programme was cut back. On the basis of the available financial resources, the target was changed from 2000 to 1800 doping controls. In the end, 1,810 doping controls were carried out under the National Programme.
The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports granted two multi-year project subsidies and so the Doping Authority was able to make progress in 2012?? on a doctorate study of the efficacy of the global anti-doping policy, and on a knowledge management project that will make more and more doping-related information available to the public. Reports will be produced on both projects upon termination in 2014.
In 2012, the Doping Authority became involved in the wide-ranging international investigation of doping use in cycling in recent years. In close collaboration with WADA and a number of National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) from other countries, we started to collect new evidence and a number of interviews were conducted with figures directly involved. In late 2012, it looked as though this investigation would be widening even further in 2013 and that it may not remain restricted to cycling alone. In view of the complexity of the entire subject, the matter will continue to take a lot of effort of Dopingautoriteit.
Despite the ongoing struggle to balance the responsibilities of the organisation and the available resources, we believe that, once again in 2012, we made an important contribution to the fight against doping in sport. We hope you will agree with us after reading this Annual Report.
The board