UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has confirmed it is carrying out an investigation into allegations made by the BBC Panorama programme ‘Catch Me If You Can’ on Wednesday 3 June 2015. UKAD Chief Executive, Nicole Sapstead said: “WADA has confirmed that USADA and UKAD are investigating the relevant allegations in the recent Panorama programme. As with all of our on-going investigations, UKAD will not disclose any details, to protect the privacy of everyone involved, and so we do not undermine our own operations of deterring and detecting doping in sport.

“We will follow our usual procedure; if a prosecution is brought we will publish the outcome on our website once due process (including any appeals) has been completed”, continued Sapstead. “However, if at the end of the investigation there is no resulting prosecution, UKAD will not publish the details. This is because we have a duty to protect the rights of those involved, and any information gathered in the investigation may be important to our work at a later date.”

“UKAD’s job is to protect clean athletes and sport in the UK”, continued Sapstead. “We work closely with all those on our registered testing pool to assist them in meeting their reporting responsibilities. We have a dedicated Athlete Support Officer whose primary role is to provide assistance to athletes, including regular contact with each athlete and their National Governing Body. Our Athlete Support Officer also ensures their anti-doping knowledge is reviewed and refreshed before a Major Games.”

“Our mission is to protect everyone’s right to clean sport, especially those athletes who choose to follow, defend and respect the anti-doping rules. Athletes and support personnel can support our work and ensure their sport is protected by continuing to share their concerns with us, however small, directly or anonymously via Report Doping in Sport.”

• This media release was originally published on the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) internet site on 29 June 2015. You can access the original by clicking here. There is more information on Panorama’s findings in the programme here.