WADA has released an education course for athletes, coaches and guides prior to Beijing 2022 ©WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has launched a new course on its Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform (ADEL) designed for athletes, coaches and guides attending the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games.

The course, titled "Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform for Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games", will give participants an understanding of the event's anti-doping rules, procedures and requirements.

These include how to check medications and apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption, how to provide whereabouts information and explanations of the athletes' rights and responsibilities during the testing process.

The course will also allow athletes, coaches and guides to identify key information, such as dates they need to be aware of and which organisation has jurisdiction over them during the Games period.

"WADA is grateful for the cooperation of the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) in developing this education solution for Anti-Doping Organizations to use as part of their pre-Games education efforts," said Amanda Hudson, WADA director of education.

"Our common goal is the same in that we wish to see all Paralympic athletes, and those who support them, educated on anti-doping matters prior to their arrival in Beijing.

"We encourage all Anti-Doping Organizations intending to send teams to the Paralympic Games to invest their time in educating their national teams and to play their part in protecting both their national reputation and the integrity of the Games.

"We would like to thank the IPC for their valuable input throughout the development of the course."

WADA has encourage participants to be educated on anti-doping procedures prior to the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games, which begins on February 4 at the Beijing National Stadium ©Getty Images
WADA has encourage participants to be educated on anti-doping procedures prior to the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games, which begins on February 4 at the Beijing National Stadium ©Getty Images

The course was developed in collaboration with the IPC.

The partnership was established as part of WADA's ongoing work to support the implementation of the International Standard for Education, which encourages athletes to be educated on anti-doping protocols prior to a competition.

"Following the hugely encouraging engagement in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics course, the IPC is delighted to again partner with WADA to create a winter version of the ADEL course for Beijing 2022," said James Sclater, IPC anti-doping director.

"It is so important that athletes, coaches and other support personnel are aware of their responsibilities under the Code.

"Beijing 2022 is a pinnacle event in the Para sport calendar and committing an anti-doping violation simply because they didn’t know the rules, or didn’t intend to dope, is never an excuse.

"So, we urge all National Paralympic Committees to do their utmost to encourage team members selected for Beijing 2022 to complete this course as part of their Games preparation.

"Doing so will help ensure they are well placed to have a positive Games experience, and not a positive test."

The Beijing 2022 Paralympics are scheduled to run from March 4 to 13.