NORCECA Medical Commission Safeguarding

the Health of Athletes

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, March 29, 2025.– In recent years, the NORCECA Confederation has been a leader in anti-doping controls, with a growing commitment to ensuring the education and health of athletes, which was reinforced during the organization’s Medical Commission virtual meeting.

Under the leadership of NORCECA President Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz, the Confederation has been a pioneer in conducting anti-doping tests, including testing in junior and youth  competitions for several years.

Dr. Víctor Figueroa, President of the Medical Commission, expressed his gratitude to the members for being part of the commission and highlighted their commitment during competitions.

Dr. Figueroa emphasized, “NORCECA has reached agreements with local anti-doping agencies, leading to significant progress in complying with international regulations. The Medical Commission has undergone major changes with the inclusion of new members and the definition of specific duties for medical delegates, which have been extensively discussed with the members.”

During the Medical Commission meeting, key topics were addressed to improve the performance of medical delegates and strengthen their role in sports events. NORCECA has implemented clear procedures that have been in practice for several years, which were presented to the FIVB with the aim of being replicated in international events.

The well-being of athletes and referees remains a priority for the commission. It was highlighted that athletes must be well-informed about medication use and anti-doping regulations. NORCECA expects medical professionals to contribute their expertise for the benefit of athletes while maintaining trust, confidentiality, and loyalty.

The commitment to making decisions in the best interest of volleyball and NORCECA was reaffirmed, avoiding conflicts of interest. Medical Commission members must meet annually for updates, participate in working groups, and maintain constant communication to share insights and improve processes.

In Dr. Víctor Figueroa’s report, the responsibilities of the medical delegate during competitions were outlined, including: ensuring the presence of local medical personnel before the competition; verifying medical facilities and doping control areas; ensuring the availability of sports medical staff during training and matches; explaining medical protocols in preliminary meetings; verifying the proper completion of medical forms; conducting medical check-ups for referees; supervising the adequate nutrition and hydration for teams; collecting injury forms; acting as a safeguarding officer for athletes and referees; and ensuring that all teams have medical insurance.

At NORCECA events, anti-doping education has been provided to athletes before competitions, and this practice will continue as part of its educational program. The goal is to raise awareness of the consequences of using prohibited substances and their serious health risks, therefore all competition regulations establish that athletes must complete the FIVB “Play Clean” program, with medical delegates reinforcing compliance.

Although alcohol testing is no longer mandatory, if requested, all necessary elements must be made available to conduct the tests.

NORCECA has signed an agreement with the Pan American Regional Anti-Doping Organization (ORAD-PAN) for sample collection during competitions, with the medical delegate responsible for facilitating and supervising the process to ensure efficiency.

In 2024, all anti-doping tests conducted at NORCECA events returned negative results. For 2025, the agreement and testing will continue across all competitions, reaffirming NORCECA’s commitment to athlete health.

Significant advances have been made in medical care, and the work of the Medical Commission remains essential for its implementation.

NORCECA’s virtual commission meetings will continue until April 5, with the next meeting, scheduled for March 31, bringing together the members of the Sports Organization Commission.