Denis Coderre Announces Funding for Anti-Doping in Sport Conference for Youth
MONTRÉAL, June 5, 2000 -- Secretary of State (Amateur Sport) Denis Coderre today announced that the Government of Canada will contribute $50,000 to support a national conference on anti-doping in sport aimed at youth. The conference which is taking place from November 17 to 19, in Montreal, is being organized by the World Forum on Physical Activity and Sport and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).Mr. Coderre was one of the founding members of the World Anti-Doping Agency and is a member of its Executive Committee. Anti-doping in sports is one of Mr. Coderre's priorities.
Mr. Coderre made the announcement at a news conference in Montréal attended by Richard W. Pound, Chair of the World Forum and Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee; Natacha Llorens, RCMP Anti-Doping Service Coordinator; and Dr. Christiane Ayotte, Professor and Chief of the Doping Control Laboratory INRS-Santé.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to provide financial support for this worthwhile initiative," said Mr. Coderre. "Although Canada is a world leader in anti-doping in sport, we must remain vigilant within our own country as well. We particularly need to focus on our young people to ensure they remain drug-free. It is important for them to be fully aware of the risks involved in taking these kinds of substances."
The conference will focus on three principal objectives: to inform the Canadian public about the growing problem of youth doping; to convince Canadians, particularly young sport participants, of the dangers of using these substances; and to bring together those concerned with this issue to take action to reduce and ideally eliminate the problem.
Funding for this project was provided for in the February 2000 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
Information:
Patrick L. Doyon
Director of Communications
Office of the Secretary of State (Amateur Sport)
(819) 994-9909
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