“Education is the process of learning to instil values and develop behaviours that foster and protect the spirit of sport, and to prevent intentional and unintentional doping.”
Principles and values that reflect clean sport include fairness, respect, honesty, determination and integrity.
The “spirit of sport”, which is the celebration of the human spirit, body and mind, is the essence of Olympism and is reflected in the values we find in and through sport, including:
- Health
- Ethics, fair play and honesty
- Athletes’ rights as set forth in the World Anti-Doping Code
- Excellence in performance
- Character and Education
- Fun and joy
- Teamwork
- Dedication and commitment
- Respect for rules and laws
- Respect for self and other Participants
- Courage
- Community and solidarity
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) values are excellence, friendship and respect.
IFAF is committed to instilling the same principles and values in all its Athletes and stakeholders.
Anti-doping education, at its core, is an expression of these values in action. When athletes and support personnel understand and embrace the Spirit of Sport, they recognise that doping is not merely a rule violation — it is a fundamental betrayal of everything that makes sport meaningful. It undermines fair competition, harms the physical and psychological wellbeing of athletes, and erodes the trust upon which sport’s social value depends.
Effective anti-doping education therefore goes beyond informing athletes about prohibited substances and methods. By anchoring its messages in the Spirit of Sport, it builds the intrinsic motivation that no regulatory framework alone can create. An athlete who understands why clean sport matters — not just what the rules are — is far better equipped to make ethical decisions under pressure, to resist coercion, and to inspire those around them.
Furthermore, the Spirit of Sport values foster a culture of mutual respect and accountability within sporting communities. They remind us that each athlete’s commitment to competing with integrity is, in itself, an act of respect toward competitors, officials, and all those who invest their passion in sport. In this way, anti-doping education becomes not a burden imposed from outside, but a shared responsibility rooted in a common love of sport.
In short, the Spirit of Sport is not the backdrop to anti-doping work — it is its purpose.
