European University Sports Association (EUSA) and its Institute have been advocating for clean sport without doping and Fair play for several years already and remains committed to the cause. Apart from taking part in EADIN project some years ago, EUSA was a partner in Match Point project on anti-doping in Tennis. EUSA is also part of the Fair play movement, includes fair play award in multiple sport disciplines, and part of the European Universities Games and European Universities Championships also annually attributes the Enno Harms Fair Play Award.

Anti-doping as a topic was present on the European Universities Games in Lodz, in a interactive and educational way on behalf of the Polish Anti-Doping Agency – POLADA.
Polish antidoping agency had a stand at Zatoka Sportu on 26 of July, where athletes, officials and other visitors could inform themselves about anti-doping policies, rules, and regulations within different sports. They held quizzes to test the knowledge and were present there to answer any questions regarded prohibited use of substances and other anti-doping related subjects. We had the chance to talk to Mr Grzegorz Borkowski, Head of the Information and Education Department and Ms Uta Kühn, person responsible for events and education, as well as conducting anti-doping training as part of POLADA.

The vision of the Polish Anti-doping Agency is like EUSA’s vision that doping should not be part of any sport. Through group of projects, EUSA took part in European-wide anti-doping network, especially among the youth sector, by educating and motivating young people to share the message and create a strong multiplying effect. The mission and vision of the Polish Anti-doping Agency is to have a doping- free sport, to limit the occurrence of unfair competition in sport, to support all activities of coaches, doctors and teachers that aim to promote fair play in sport.

The quiz involved questions about the rules and regulations of testing, who can take the test, what are the possibilities of the athlete when it comes to testing, the role of the coaches, the consequences if an athlete refuses to test, the duration between possible test and about the variety of prohibited substances and methods.

Fair play was an unwritten rule, a moral value that represented the real essence of sport. Opponents had to be appreciated, the better they were, the more valuable they became. More than ever, it is vitally important to defend the values intrinsic to sport: respect for oneself and others, solidarity, and fair play. Through sport and values like fair play, that encompasses respect, friendship, team spirit, fair competition, sport without doping, respect for both written and unwritten rules, equality, integrity, solidarity, tolerance, care and joy, we can contribute to building a peaceful society and ultimately a better world.

European University Sports Association (EUSA) is a partner of the European Fair Play Movement (EPM), and strongly promotes the spirit of Fair Play. Its values are deeply embedded in EUSA and it have been emphasizing the importance of sportsmanship and the positive approach to the sport from the very start. In this way EUSA awards the exemplary behaviour in the sport field and will continue with the same practice in the future.

On this year’s European Universities Games 2022 in Lodz, Poland, the Fair Play award was present for technical aspects of the games at various medal ceremonies in futsal, handball, beach handball, football, basketball and 3x3 basketball. Regardless of the sport, the officials and athletes may nominate an individal or team for the special Enno Harms Fair Play Award, which is given annually by EUSA for special fair play gestures and attitude. 

When we are talking about fair play and rules and regulations in sports, our technical delegate for football, Mr Andreas Demetriou, has published a booklet called "Playing football by the rules". 

Importance of fair play was demonstrated at the European Universities Games also by the presennce of representatives of the Fair Play movement - Mr Gabor Deregan from the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP) and Ms Hanna Wawrowska from the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM).

For more information, please see www.eusa.eu