FIFA launches new '11 rules to prevent doping' education initiative

To keep football free from doping, FIFA is launching an initiative to explain to all players why they should stay clean and how they can avoid doping.

The '11 rules to prevent doping in football' posters aim to raise awareness among young athletes, coaches, doctors, trainers and parents about the dangers and consequences of doping. They contain 11 simple messages selected by experts in anti-doping management in collaboration with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). These messages introduce basic but important advice, such as checking the list of prohibited substances, avoiding recreational drugs, taking care with food supplements, and applying for therapeutic use exemptions (TUE).

FIFA appeals to all its member associations to distribute the posters to their clubs and national teams at all levels. The posters should be printed and displayed in football facilities all across the respective countries, particularly for youth-level players to see. 

In addition, FIFA is reaching out directly to fans and players across the world via its digital and social media platforms. The posters can be easily downloaded and shared with the aim of creating awareness about doping. For every player that learns about the dangers of doping we lower the risk of footballers taking doping substances due to a lack of knowledge.

The primary targets of the initiative are young athletes. To kick-start the initiative and help send a clear message to the global football community, the quarter-finalists at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015, which boast some of the most talented and promising youth players from all over the globe, have joined the campaign.

The first message of the poster is simple yet very effective: “Doping is cheating. Respect your team-mates and your sport, but most of all respect yourself. You don’t want to win knowing you have cheated.”