Legislation and Litigation Resulting from the Canadian Commission of Inquiry into the Use of Drugs and Banned Practices Intended To Increase Athletic Performance.

This paper presents the results from the Dubin Inquiry Report (1990) into drug abuse for athletic purposes. The inquiry involved testimonies from 48 steroid users, and from coaches, sport administrators, medical doctors, sport scientists, and International Olympic Committee representatives. Recommendations from the Dubin Report include: (1) increased and improved drug testing at the national and international levels; (2) third-party testing by the Sports Medicine Council of Canada; (3) stricter sanctions, including suspension for at least the next world championship, after a violation; (4) legal sanctions for steroid distribution and use; (5) clearer demarcation on rights and responsibilities of Sport Canada and the sports governing bodies, with the former responsible for financing carded athletes and national teams, and the latter responsible for the selection and eligibility of such teams; (6) change in emphasis by the sporting community, the media, and the public at large from winning medals to personal excellence; (7) establishment of an independent arbitrator to deal with appeals; and (8) ethics and morality modules in the National Coaching Certification Program. (LLL)