The ITA is leading the clean sport program for the Games of the Small States of Europe in 2023

The GSSE is a biennial event organised by and featuring National Olympic Committees of nine European small states. The 2023 edition of the GSSE will be held from 28 May to 3 June in Valletta, Malta, featuring ten sports disciplines. Within the framework of the ITA’s collaboration with the EOC, the independent anti-doping organisation will be leading the comprehensive clean sport activities for the 2023 GSSE.

This ITA-led program for the event will be based on a bespoke risk assessment considering a variety of factors including the specific physiological profiles of the participating sports. Drawing on this risk analysis and any other available information stemming from intelligence or investigations, a tailored test distribution plan will be implemented during the event. The testing operations will be implemented in collaboration with the Organising Committee of Malta 2023 and the Maltese National Anti-Doping Organisation.

All potential Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) stemming from these testing activities will be processed independently by the ITA’s legal experts within the scope of the jurisdiction of the EOC. The ITA’s Regulatory Compliance unit will ensure that the anti-doping program for the event is planned and delivered in strict compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the Anti-Doping Rules of the EOC.

“We are pleased to deliver an independent and expert anti-doping program for the Games of the Small States of Europe this summer as part of our collaboration with the European Olympic Committees,” says ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen. “With the European Youth Olympic Festivals and the European Games taking place this year, our clean sport activities at the GSSE will mark another important milestone as part of the close partnership we have with the European Olympic Committees. I wish to thank them for entrusting us and for their commitment to clean sport and the protection of all European athletes.”

EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi welcomed the agreement and spoke about the continued need to be vigilant against doping in sport.

Pagnozzi said: “The EOC is delighted to further strengthen our partnership with the ITA. They will play a vital role in ensuring the GSSE is a clean competition.

“We operate professional testing programmes at all our events and know that we must continue and strengthen our commitment in the fight for fair sport.”

“We are very grateful to the European Olympic Committees for their assistance in this vital aspect of our Games. We are in dialogue with both the International Testing Agency and the Maltese NADO and we are convinced that everything is being done to ensure a clean and fair Games for all competing athletes”, said President of the Maltese Olympic Committee Julian Pace Bonello.

Within the scope of its partnership with the EOC, the ITA has delivered the anti-doping and education program for the 2023 Winter European Olympic Youth Festival in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy, earlier this year and will go on to manage the doping activities for the European Games in Krakow, Poland, and the Summer European Youth Olympic Festival this summer in Maribor, Slovenia.