The Research Forum – the first of its kind organised by UKAD – brought together leading anti-doping researchers in the UK, from some 11 universities including Loughborough, Bath, Liverpool John Moores and Stirling, to share the research they have conducted and develop a baseline assessment of the current anti-doping research landscape.

Speaking to some 40 delegates, Professor Brewer, who is also a UKAD Board Member said: “Continued research is key in understanding how we can continue to work hard to prevent doping in sport. It is essential to determine what is safe to take and what products should be banned.

“Banned substances are determined in three ways: the substance has the potential to enhance the individual’s performance; the substance presents an actual or potential health risk, or, the substance violates the spirit of sport. If a substance fails at least two of the three criteria, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will deem the product a banned substance.”

Professor Brewer also highlighted the impact that misuse of performance enhancing substances can have on professional sports personalities’ reputations, when given punishments for failing drugs tests or breaking other anti-doping rules.

Examples included Marion Jones, who became athletics’ golden girl at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games claiming five medals, three of them gold. Eight years later, Jones was sentenced to serve six months in jail for lying to investigators after admitting her golden achievements in Sydney were fuelled by steroid abuse.

Punishments need to be “punitive” said Professor Brewer, but also insisted more action is required to “rehabilitate” sportsmen and women who resort to using performance enhancing substances, so they learn from their mistakes and can continue their sporting career once they end their ban.

To address this, from next year the new World Anti-Doping Code introduces tougher punishments for competitors who test positive for banned substances. This includes doubling the mandatory two-year ban from competition to four years.

Concluding, Professor Brewer said: “I’m delighted that the University of Bedfordshire hosted the first UKAD Research Forum, bringing leading anti-doping researchers from across the UK to our Putteridge Bury campus.”

He added: “It is so important that we use our research to keep one step ahead of those who choose to use banned substances to enhance their sporting performance. This event brought together the best researchers in the field to discuss current issues and identify key research topics for the future.

“It is vital we continue to recognise that athletes are at the heart of what UKAD does. We must do all we can to support them to compete clean.”