Speaking at the “Training Sciences Forum” held in Azerbaijan, Prof. Dr. Haydar Demirel, Director of the Sports Science Center at Near East University, highlighted the importance of fair play and athlete safety in sports with his comprehensive presentation on modern anti-doping practices and athlete biological passports.
Near East University, ranked among the top 500 universities in the world, continues to share its scientific expertise in athlete health and ethical performance on international platforms. Prof. Dr. Haydar Demirel, who is also the Head of the High Performance Science Board of the General Directorate of Sports Services of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Turkey, participated in the first “Training Sciences Forum” organized by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Youth and Sports for coaches. In his presentation at the forum, Prof. Dr. Demirel provided comprehensive assessments on modern anti-doping practices and athlete biological passports.
The event was opened by the Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan and Vice President of the National Olympic Committee, Farid Gayibov. The forum, which brought together numerous sports science experts from different countries, also included top-level coaches and high-performance directors involved in the process leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games. Throughout the forum, current developments in sports science were discussed, and an exchange of knowledge and experience took place between coaches and academics.
At the forum, where athlete safety and fair play were prioritized, Prof. Dr. Haydar Demirel, in his panel presentation titled “Athlete Biological Passport”, not only provided participants with a theoretical framework but also discussed in detail the scientific approaches used in the fight against doping through hematological, steroid, and endocrine profiles monitored within the scope of biological passports. The presentation also shared practical recommendations for protecting the long-term health of athletes and strengthening ethical standards. Prof. Dr. Demirel emphasized the importance of increasing awareness among coaches and athlete support teams regarding anti-doping and ethical responsibilities, sharing his assessments with participants through various examples.
The Importance of Anti-Doping in Athletes’ Health and Performance
In his presentation, Prof. Dr. Haydar Demirel, who made assessments regarding athlete safety and anti-doping practices, touched upon the scope of the Prohibited Substances List published by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Prof. Dr. Demirel said, “Substances that have the potential to enhance performance, risk athlete health, and are contrary to the spirit of sport are included in this list. Substances such as anabolic agents, growth hormone, stimulants, and peptide hormones may seem to provide short-term benefits, but they carry serious health risks.” Touching upon the effects of doping use on health, Prof. Dr. Demirel emphasized that cardiovascular complications, endocrine system disorders, and the concealment of injuries pose significant risks for athletes.
Prof. Dr. Demirel, Director of the Near East University Sports Science Center, also addressed modern anti-doping approaches. Haydar Demirel described the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) system as follows; “One-off tests are no longer sufficient. Thanks to ABP, athletes’ biological data can be monitored over the long term, and physiological manipulations can be detected.” Highlighting the principle of strict accountability, Prof. Dr. Demirel reminded that athletes are directly responsible for any substances detected in their bodies, noting that even a contaminated or mislabeled supplement can unintentionally lead to negative consequences. At the end of his presentation, Prof. Dr. Demirel also cautioned athlete support teams, emphasizing that coaches, doctors, and all support personnel must act with extreme caution and awareness regarding every medication or supplement used. Prof. Dr. Demirel emphasized that performance goals should never override medical safety and ethical responsibilities.
