25th May 2005
As part of a campaign launched today by UK Sport, Paula Radcliffe is one of thirty British sport stars to sign a commitment that they will not take performance-enhancing drugs.
The "100% ME" campaign, which has the backing of Olympic gold medallists Chris Hoy and Tanni Grey-Thompson, is urging other leading sportsmen and women to join the campaign to become ambassadors for a drug-free sport.
UK Sport's director of drug-free sport, John Scott, said: "The focus traditionally is on the small minority of sportsmen and women who don’t abide by the rules. Through 100% ME we want to switch the attention to those who choose to compete drug-free, and celebrate the success they achieve as drug-free athletes through sheer hard work, dedication and belief." Scott also explained that an education programme will be run in conjunction to the campaign, developing a network of trained anti-doping advisers.
Paula Radcliffe, a vociferous campaigner against drug use in sport, said: "I'm very happy to have the chance to stand up for my beliefs. I believe all athletes have a right to know that they are competing on a fair and level playing field and also to prove their performances, after endless hard work and dedication, are the results of precisely that. The public also have a right to be able to watch sport and believe in the purity and quality of the performances."
To find out more about the "100% ME" campaign, visit www.100percentme.co.uk/home.php
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