WHERE RULES AND ETHICS MEET

Lausanne (SUI) - FIG Office, November 12, 2009: The Medical Commission of the International Gymnastics Federation convened in Paris (FRA), November 1 - 3, upon invitation by its President, Dr Michel Léglise, also Vice-President of the FIG.

Addressing first and foremost the Therapeutic Use Commission (TUEC), made up of Dr Zakia Partagi (TUN), Jay Binder (USA), Pierre Dernier (BEL), Mirela Siracova (BUL) and Neoklis Georgopoulos (GRE), Dr Léglise recalled the importance of acting independently, in strict adherence to the rules, but with an ethical mindset when analysing the cases submitted.

The Medical Commission focused a large part of its discussions on the three most significant research programmes: biology of growth, accidents in gymnastics and shoulder trauma injuries. An ambitious project, it aims to provide answers to a range of day-to-day questions involving gymnast health.

Other topics on the order of the day, such as the biological passport and the revision of the new 2010 List of Prohibited Substances issued by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA), were discussed in detail by Commission Members Dr Jay Binder (USA), Neoklis Georgopoulos (GRE), Lubos Hrazdira (CZE) and Erkki Vuori.

In his concluding remarks, Dr Léglise urged the Medical Commission to "communicate regularly with its target public, and to foster communication and an open dialogue between the continental unions and the national federations." The FIG will continue to publish practical manuals periodically, which deal with the basic concerns of prevention, diagnosis and health-care as directly related to gymnastics. The information will be posted on the FIG website.