Committed to protecting clean athletes for the sake of the future of sport and for the protection of athletes’ health, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through its Medical and Scientific Commission is calling on researchers to apply for support and funding of athlete-centered projects, involving both science and social research. Applications will re-open from 15 June to 15 August 2015.
The IOC has committed USD 10 million to fund research pertaining to anti-doping for the protection of athletes. The strategy for distribution of this fund is to complement, but not duplicate, existing anti-doping research programmes. Anti-doping organisations agree that alternative strategies are needed. The priority is then innovative and novel research in all areas of anti-doping, which have the potential to lead to a significant change in the way anti-doping programmes are carried out and will have a direct impact on the daily life of the clean athlete.
Particular priority will be given to:
- research that could lead to a transformational change in, and enhancement of, the life of clean athletes;
- research projects that focus on the effectiveness of prevention strategies, including changing the behavior of athletes and entourage, with the aim of reducing the risk and exposure to doping and supplement abuse;
- proposals that evaluate the efficacy of current anti-doping programmes including more accurate measures of prevalence, or that develop alternative approaches to anti-doping.
Multi-center and collaborative projects are encouraged, as well as proposals from scientists who have never before been involved in anti-doping research.
Areas that are not a priority for the IOC Independent Research Fund, and that are typically supported by WADA research grants, are:
- the assessment of ergogenic agents;
- gene doping;
- laboratory-based research to improve the sensitivity of current analytical techniques.
Grants will not be given for the following:
- funding the work of commercial companies;
- routine anti-doping programs (e.g. training of doping control personnel);
- research that should be the responsibility of other bodies (e.g. NOC educational seminars by Olympic Solidarity).
Click here to download the Application Form
To submit your application or for any questions, contact: iocmedicalresearch@olympic.org