Social Drugs and Air Sports: Make sure you FLY CLEAN
The second FAI Anti-Doping Webinar series in 2025 titled “Social Drugs and Air Sports: Make sure you Fly Clean”, is scheduled for 25 June at 12:00 UTC. In this non-judgemental video meeting, attendees can expect to be informed of the risks of social drug use by pilots or air sports athletes, and learn about the potential impact on a sporting or professional career.
In the personal life of air sports athletes and pilots, many may encounter social drugs in a variety of situations. These social situations may lead to instances of doping, accidental or otherwise. Doping can not only affect sporting or professional performance, but it may also lead to Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs), sanctions, as well as potential criminal charges. The risks are therefore important for individuals concerned to understand.
To better understand the doping risks and consequences of social drugs, this webinar will bring expert guidance from the FAI Anti-Doping team and guests Thomas Drekonja, Jacques Berlo, and Kamila Chomanicova (see profiles below).
- Sign up for the webinar
- Format: online via ZOOM
- Wednesday 25 June 2025 at 12:00-13:00 UTC
Why attend the webinar?
Doping risks are not always obvious. Doping violations can be avoided with reliable and up-to-date knowledge. This webinar will show attendees how to manage doping risks when encountering social drugs.
who is the webinar for?
Any interested parties are welcome to attend. FAI anti-doping webinar attendees often include team managers, coaches, athletes and pilots as well as air sport organisations or clubs, and anti-doping specialists.
Key takeaways for attendees
- Understand which social drugs might affect doping
- Learn why some substances found in social drugs are prohibited
- Learn about how substances are tested
- Discover the types of doping consequences
- Find out which TUEs (Therapeutic Use Exemption) are related to social drugs
- Obtain access to reliable and up-to-date anti-doping information
As part of its engagement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) the FAI is committed to maintaining a clean sport culture by equipping athletes, coaches, clubs, and members with the knowledge needed to uphold clean sport values, even in complex social settings.
About the experts
To provide insights from both athlete and medical points of view, three experts will share real-life examples and explain the doping implications of social drug use for air sports athletes and pilots:
- Thomas Drekonja, MD is the FAI Medico-Physiological Commission (CIMP) President, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Flight Surgeon/AME, Chief Medical Officer of Aeromedical Center Salzburg, and EASA Medical Expert Group Member
- Jacques Berlo is an FAI Companion of Honour and Vice-President of the Medico-Physiological Commission (CIMP) with decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Kamila Chomanicova is a pharmacist, International Doping Control Officer, Education Manager at the Slovak Anti-Doping Agency (SADA), and member of the T-DO Education Working Group, Council of Europe (bio), and an 8-time Towerrunning Slovak national champion.
FAI AND THE WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY (WADA)
FAI became a WADA signatory in 2011. This implies commitments for in-competition testing, out of competition testing and education, which are all included within FAI’s Fly Clean Programme.
FAI’s anti-doping rules are based on the WADA template ‘Model Rules for International Federations’. Our compliance is audited annually and non-compliance has serious consequences.
