New virtual reality doping control experience

Drug Free Sport NZ launches new virtual reality doping control experience

Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) is launching a new virtual reality doping control experience, which will be available at Aon Maadi Cup at Lake Karapiro on 29-30 March. DFSNZ Chief Executive Nick Paterson says: “Use of this technology resonates with our younger athletes and provides a real world insight into the doping control process.”

“We’ve got some amazing young Kiwi athletes coming through to international prominence, and we want to arm them with information. If they are selected for drug-testing while competing overseas, we want to help them to know what to expect and be able to challenge the situation if something is inaccurate. This helps to protect clean Kiwi athletes.

“This education process is really important– especially for those who haven’t been tested before, or who are on a development pathway towards high performance sport.

“Doping control can feel quite personally intrusive especially when you’re being asked to pass a sample in front of a chaperone. We want to give athletes and their support people some familiarity with the process, to try and make it less stressful for them, and help them understand their rights and responsibilities.“

“Virtual Reality doping control has been developed as part of our education program, and complements our values-based Good Clean Sport – Youth workshops, and our e-Learning programmes. We hope that sports organisations will contact us for a demo of virtual reality, or try it out with a mobile phone. “ Mr Paterson said.

“Our Kiwi rowers have been very successful, and are clean sport role models. We were really lucky to have Olympic Champion rower Eric Murray feature in some ofDFSNZ’s education videos on social media late last year. Eric is a strong supporter of clean sport, and with our new VR experience we’re looking forward to engaging with the next generation of rowing champions. “

In addition to Maadi Cup rowing, Drug Free Sport New Zealand has been demonstrating virtual reality doping control at a range of sports events this week including NZ Secondary Schools volleyball, basketball, and waka ama. Earlier in the month the Education team also attended NZ National Athletics Champs in Christchurch, and Horse of the Year in Hastings.

END

© Scoop Media