Round table on medical and anti-doping issues
London (GBR), October 17, 2009

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, November 3, 2009: Federations having participated in the recent Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in London (GBR) were invited to participate in a medical oriented round table meeting organised by Dr Michel Léglise (FRA), Vice President of the FIG and President of the FIG Medical Commission.

A large majority of the 71 federations in London attended for a broader look at current issues and an overview of the latest information put forth by specialists in international sports medicine.

Dr Léglise addressed a negligent trend in the respect of rules and certain procedures employed by the World Anti-doping Agency, notably the manner in which gymnasts are located out of competition. He pinpointed the dangers of overtraining, the trauma that entails, and the accidents that too often accompany reckless risk-taking.

Also present at the round table, FIG President Prof. Bruno Grandi pointed out the excess that arises from unstructured coaching, the kind that is devoid of all cultural or scientific foundation. It is the mission of the Gymnastic Academies to educate educators in the art of taking the health and potentially lengthy career of their gymnasts to heart, rather than focusing exclusively on amassing medals.