UKAD fires warning at cheats using coronavirus lockdown as 'doping holiday'

The head of the UK Anti-Doping Agency has warned that cheats could be taking “a doping holiday” during lockdown.

But despite testing in the UK having been reduced to minimal levels as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Nicole Sapstead has warned those who breach rules: “We will come after you.

“I think it would be naive to think there may not be some who think during lockdown they are off the radar and then they may have taken this opportunity to cheat or plug that gap where they’ve not been able to train as they would normally," she said. "But our message has been clear from the get-go that we are receiving intelligence and ramping up our testing programme.

“If athletes feel this has afforded them a doping holiday, then they can think again, they are seriously mistaken. We will come after them if we think they’ve been taking this opportunity to cheat.”

British racewalker Tom Bosworth voiced similar sentiments last month, when he said the coronavirus shutdown was "a gift" to would-be drugs cheats.

Launching their Clean in Quarantine campaign this week, UKAD are initially targeting coaches to educate their athletes on the dangers of doping.