Boccia England is delighted to announce its completion of the Assurance Framework, which National Governing Bodies (NGBs) must fulfil to certify to UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) that they are meeting their anti-doping responsibilities.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) published the updated 2021 UK National Anti-Doping Policy (Policy) in April 2021, which all NGBs must be compliant with. This was the first update of the Policy since its implementation in 2009.

UKAD, which is responsible for ensuring that sports bodies comply with the World Anti-Doping Code through its implementation and management of the Policy, introduced the Assurance Framework for NGBs to be able to evidence their compliance with the Policy.

The introduction of the Assurance Framework is the most significant change in the Policy. It outlines a series of mandatory requirements which all NGBs must fulfil. These requirements include the creation of an education strategy and plan, the implementation of anti-doping rules and increased involvement of an NGB’s Board with clean sport.

Upon completion of the Assurance Framework Chris Ratcliffe from Boccia England said:

“I am delighted that we have successfully completed the Assurance Framework, which National Governing Bodies (NGBs) must fulfil to certify to UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) they are meeting their anti-doping responsibilities.”

 

UKAD’s Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Nisha Dutt, said:

“I’d like to congratulate Boccia England for completing the UKAD Assurance Framework, which demonstrates a commitment to clean sport. Boccia England can now fully show that it is meeting its anti-doping responsibilities.”

For more information on the Policy and Assurance Framework, visit the UKAD website.

About Boccia England

Boccia England is a registered Charity and the National Governing Body for boccia in England. The charity is responsible for the grass roots development of the game to the point where athletes compete in World Class events. These World Class competitions are managed by Boccia UK.

Boccia England receives funding from Sport England as well as from several other smaller funders.

For more information about Boccia England visit www.bocciaengland.org.uk

Boccia

Boccia (pronounced ‘botcha’) is derived from the ancient Italian game of bocce and is similar to the French boules game, pétanque. Boccia is thought to have evolved from one of the first games played in ancient Greece and Egypt where large stones would have been thrown at a target. Sir Francis Drake and Lord Howard even played a game in Plymouth, England, whilst waiting for the arrival of the Spanish Armada in 1588. It is believed that Sir Francis Drake insisted on finishing the game before leaving to defeat the enemy.

The sport is contested at local, national, and international levels, by athletes with severe physical disabilities. It was originally designed to be played by people with cerebral palsy. Now the game is played by athletes with other severe disabilities affecting motor skills, and increasingly enjoyed by older people and school pupils.

In 1984, boccia became a Paralympic sport and is governed by the Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed). It is one of only two Paralympic sports (along with goalball) that have no Olympic equivalent.

 

About UK Anti-Doping

UK Anti-Doping is responsible for ensuring sports bodies in the UK are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code through implementation and management of the UK National Anti-Doping Policy.

UK Anti-Doping’s functions include an education and information programme, athlete testing across more than 40 Olympic, Paralympic, and professional sports, intelligence management and exclusive results management authority for the determination of anti-doping rule violations.

For more information on UKAD, please click here.