Brisbane will become a world-class training ground for doping control and athlete protection as The University of Queensland launches 6 new courses in partnership with the International Testing Agency (ITA).
The courses will run out of the world's second ITA Academic Centre , established at UQ through a partnership between the University and the ITA - an independent international non-profit organisation.
The ITA, leading anti-doping programs for more than 80 sport organisations, including the IOC, is recognised by UNESCO for its contribution to the worldwide fight against doping in sport.
The courses will help to meet demand for skills to strengthen Australia's capacity to deliver major international sporting events.
Brisbane 2032 will follow a record Games for testing in 2024, with 6,130 samples collected from 4,150 athletes during the Paris Olympic Games, according to the ITA.
UQ's Office of 2032 Games Engagement Executive Director Professor Bruce Abernethy said practical training in blood collection, chaperoning, doping control management and clean-sport education would provide employment and volunteering pathways for the Queensland sports community.
"As Brisbane prepares to host the world, Queenslanders rightly expect sport that is fair, safe and trusted," Professor Abernethy said.
"This centre will help build a skilled local workforce, protect athlete health and fairness in sports, and ensure the benefits of hosting the Games in Queensland flow into our communities, schools, and sporting clubs well beyond 2032."
ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen said the partnership allowed the agency to expand an already strong relationship with Australia by bringing together the ITA's global anti-doping expertise and UQ's academic and local leadership.
"Partnerships like these are essential to building a strong and sustainable future for clean sport," Mr Cohen said.
"This collaboration will help develop joint applied-research initiatives, workforce training and opportunities to further reinforce a fair and trusted sporting environment in the lead-up to Brisbane 2032, and for years beyond.
"We are very excited to establish an ITA Academic Centre in Queensland and to work with UQ and the community to promote clean sport in Australia and globally."
Through its Academic Centres, the ITA supports education, workforce training and applied research initiatives designed to strengthen anti-doping programs globally.
The UQ-ITA centre will support the integration of anti-doping expertise into UQ curricula and the exchange of knowledge through guest lectures delivered by ITA experts.
UQ researchers and postgraduate students will have the opportunity to collaborate with the ITA on selected projects in health, sport science, sports law and other clean sport-related areas.
The courses will complement UQ's reputation as a global leader in sports-related studies, ranked number one in Australia and second in the world for 6 consecutive years.
Professor Abernethy said the partnership builds on UQ's close collaboration with organisations including Sport Integrity Australia, Paralympics Australia and the Queensland Academy of Sport and is part of a broad set of initiatives UQ is undertaking to support safe and fair sport.
Visit the ITA website for information on how to apply for the UQ-ITA courses .
