Monday 10 October, Paris

New Zealand backs Anti-Doping Convention at major UNESCO International Meeting in Paris

The New Zealand Ambassador to France, Adrian Macey, has given whole-hearted support to the development of the International Convention Against Doping in Sport at the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) General Conference in Paris.

Ambassador Macey said that the Convention represents a significant achievement in the international effort to create an effective anti-doping programme that can defeat those who try to use performance-enhancing substances to improve their sporting performances and who by so doing, undermine the ethical values of sport.

“We believe the Convention provides an instrument through which governments around the world can formally express their commitment to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Code,” Ambassador Macey said.

New Zealand has played an active role in the development of the Convention with Paul Marriott-Lloyd, previously chief policy adviser at SPARC New Zealand, working closely with the UNESCO Secretariat in developing the Convention since 2003.

The Convention received widespread support from other delegations and is expected to be adopted by the Plenary of the UNESCO General Conference later this week. Delegations worked behind the scenes to reach a compromise on the controversial issue of the ongoing financing costs associated with the Convention and this was unanimously accepted.

New Zealand is at the forefront of international anti-doping efforts and current practices and policies are consistent with the Convention.

“We support in full the commitments and practices of the Convention,” Ambassador Macey said. “We look forward to UNESCO’s 192 Member States giving the Convention the status it deserves.”

UNESCO is a United Nations agency working for world peace and international understanding through education, natural and social sciences, culture and communications. This year, UNESCO celebrates its 60th Anniversary. New Zealand has been a member since its formation in 1945.

Attached Photo: H E Adrian Macey, Ambassador for New Zealand, France, supported by Deputy Head of Mission, Linda Te Puni, presenting New Zealand’s position on the anti-doping in sport convention at UNESCO last week.

ENDS

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