News

UNI Sport Pro is holding a World Athletes Summit at UNI Global Union head office in Nyon, Switzerland which is championing athletes’ rights.



More than a 100 players’ associations from as far afield as Bangladesh and New Zealand, representing sports as diverse as Gaelic football, ice hockey, baseball and cricket are seeking a blueprint for success - a new agenda to drive forward the rights of sportsmen and sportswomen.



Walter Palmer, the head of UNI Sport Pro said, “This meeting is an important step. We know that we are in a fight to win justice for ordinary athletes. Together we are stronger and can fulfil our responsibility to ensure that the voice of the athletes is heard at the global level.”



The key topics being discussed include collective bargaining, the status of players, and the reform of the anti-doping rules, anti-corruption measures, image rights, and dual careers/transition programmes.



On the issue of anti-doping EU Athletes and UNI Sport Pro have already published research which proves conclusively that the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) has failed the test: the report “Adverse Analyzing”, a review of the World Anti-Doping Code demonstrates that many parts of the Code are have little empirical evidence to back-up any claim of effectiveness.



All the players’ associations present at the World Athletes Summit stressed the importance of education for athletes and tailored training that will give them the chance to fulfil their potential once their playing careers have come to an end.



The players’ associations and UNI Sport Pro continue the fight for athletes who are often vulnerable and at the mercy of the governing sports bodies and the market.