April 29th, 2004 – The new Program requires top-level athletes to report their whereabouts to the CCES on a quarterly basis to bring Canada's out-of-competition testing up to the new level specified by the World Anti-Doping Code. Other new Code-compliant elements include blood collection, automatic hearings prior to sanctioning, and the reduction of first-offence sanctions from four to two years.

The Program, like the Code, was developed in consultation with the sport community. The Code was endorsed by international sport and anti-doping organizations last spring. Now Canada's Program must be implemented by national sport organizations by June 1, 2004 – an aggressive deadline, but comparable to that of other top anti-doping nations.

“The new Canadian Anti-Doping Program is the culmination of over two years of commitment by the Canadian sport community,” said Paul Melia, President and CEO of the CCES. “The World Anti-Doping Agency requires that a country demonstrate compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code before its athletes can participate at the 2004 Athens Games. Canada's athletes will be there.”

The Program is also a requirement of the new Canadian Policy Against Doping in Sport, which will be formally adopted later this month by federal, provincial and territorial government ministers responsible for sport. The Policy sets out the commitment of governments to doping-free sport in Canada.

The CCES is an independent, national, non-profit organization. Our mission, to promote ethical conduct in all aspects of sport in Canada, is carried out through research, promotion, education, detection and deterrence, as well as through programs and partnerships with other organizations