FIBA Medical Commission reshuffles strategy in light of FIBA's new competition system and continued growth of 3x3

FIBA's Medical Commission

MIES - FIBA's Medical Commission, which is in place for the 2014-2019 term of office, met on Saturday-Sunday 17-18 October at the House of Basketball.

The 12-person body confirmed that 2015 saw an unprecedented number of doping controls performed in the lead-up to and during the 10 continental championships.

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During the two-day meeting, the Medical Commission reviewed the current developments taking place within FIBA - such as the new system of competition which comes into effect in 2017 and the continued growth of its 3x3 discipline - and determined what challenges may lay ahead from a medical and anti-doping point perspective.

As a result of this reflection, the commission has revamped its strategy for the current cycle and placed an emphasis on a number of key initiatives, including:

• Strengthening FIBA's healthcare programme with a particular focus on the new system of competition as of 2017
• Supporting the growth of 3x3 from a medical and anti-doping point of view
• Further enhancing FIBA's Anti-Doping programme especially with regards to its major events and the education of basketball's future stars

Dr Peter Harcourt, the Chairman of the Medical Commission, said: "With the new FIBA competition format, expanding 3x3 competition and emerging global anti-doping strategies, the Medical Commission noted that, while we had a strong 'clean sport' record, there were some future challenges. Consequently, the Medical Commission refreshed its commitment to the fight against doping and made significant changes to the FIBA doping controls and education programmes. These changes are designed to enhance FIBA's fight against the use of performance enhancing drugs and keep basketball free of doping. We all wanted to retain basketball as a 'clean game' and help protect the sport we love."

The duties of FIBA's Medical Commission are to advise the Secretary General on:

• The research and practice required to raise the quality of healthcare generally for players
• The healthcare system available at the main official competitions of FIBA in order to ensure that it is capable of delivering care uniformly, effectively and consistently during those competitions
• How to ensure that the highest quality of sports medicine knowledge is disseminated through the entire sports medicine team associated with the sport of basketball (professionals, coaches, scientists and administrators) through the provision of training, continuing education and other resources
• Purely medical matters related to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Code and/or the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code

The Medical Commission may study and propose via the Legal Commission regulation changes on medical matters related to basketball.

FIBA's Medical Commission for 2014-2019 consists of:
Chairman:
Harcourt, Peter (Dr) - Australia
Deputy-Chairman:
Sayegh, Souheil (Dr) - Switzerland
Members:
Canlas, Jose Raul (Dr) - Philippines
Castillo, Luis Alberto (Dr) - Uruguay
De Oliveira, Cesar P.S (Dr) - Brazil
Grippo, Diego (Dr) - Argentina
Gueye, Aboubacar (Dr) - Guinea
Mu'Azu, Abdulkadir (Dr) - Nigeria
Pipe, Andrew (Dr) - Canada
Radovanovic, Dragan (Dr) - Serbia
Urena Duran, Rosario (Dr) - Spain
Yucesir, Ilker (Dr) - Turkey

By: Editor