England Hockey completes UK Anti-Doping Assurance Framework

England Hockey 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.

UKAD’s Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Nisha Dutt, said: “We are delighted to see England Hockey complete the new UKAD Assurance Framework. The Assurance Framework allows NGBs to demonstrate their plans to help protect the integrity of sport. Our dedicated Assurance and Education teams have been working to support England Hockey through this process. This includes the creation of a specific anti-doping education strategy, which outlines how England Hockey will embed clean sport values into their sport.

“We would like to thank England Hockey for making great strides in completing this important framework, formally demonstrating its compliance with the UK National Anti-Doping Policy and commitment to clean sport.”

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