The ITA is leading the clean sport program for the Games of the Small States of Europe in 2023

The GSSE is a biennial event organized by and with the National Olympic Committees of nine small European countries. The 2023 edition of the GSSE will be held in Valletta, Malta from May 28th to June 3rd with ten sports disciplines. As part of the ITA’s collaboration with the EOC, the independent anti-doping organization will lead the comprehensive clean sport activities for the GSSE 2023.

This ITA-led program for the event is based on a bespoke risk assessment, taking into account a variety of factors, including the specific physiological profiles of the participating sports. Based on this risk analysis and any other available information from intelligence or investigations, a tailored test distribution plan will be implemented during the event. The testing operations will be carried out in cooperation with the Organizing Committee of Malta 2023 and the Malta National Anti-Doping Organization.

Any potential anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) arising out of these testing activities will be handled independently by the ITA’s legal experts within the jurisdiction of the EOC. The ITA Regulatory Compliance Unit will ensure that the anti-doping program for the event is planned and conducted in strict accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the EOC Anti-Doping Rules.

“We are pleased to provide an independent and competent anti-doping program for the Small States of Europe Games this summer as part of our collaboration with the European Olympic Committees,” said ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen. “With the European Youth Olympic Festivals and European Games taking place this year, our clean sport activities at GSSE will mark another important milestone in our close partnership with the European Olympic Committees. I want to thank them for their trust and commitment to clean sport and the protection of all European athletes.”

EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi welcomed the agreement and spoke of the ongoing need to be vigilant against doping in sport.

Pagnozzi said: “The EOC is pleased to further strengthen our partnership with the ITA. You will play an important role in ensuring that the GSSE is a fair competition.

“We run professional testing programs at all of our events and know that we must continue and increase our commitment to the fight for fair sport.”

“We are very grateful to the European Olympic Committees for their support in this important aspect of our Games. We are in dialogue with both the International Testing Agency and the Maltese NADO and are confident that everything will be done to ensure clean and fair games for all participating athletes,” said Maltese Olympic Committee President Julian Pace Bonello.

As part of its partnership with the EOC, the ITA delivered the anti-doping and education program for the Winter European Olympic Youth Festival 2023 in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy earlier this year and will continue to lead the doping activities for this year the European Games in Kraków, Poland and the Summer European Youth Olympic Festival this summer in Maribor, Slovenia.

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