Arcom and the AFLD welcome the progress made by television channels in the fight against doping

Television channels that broadcast sports programmes have a real role to play in raising public awareness of the fight against doping and protecting athletes' health. Each year, they are required to offer their viewers at least two programmes dealing with these issues.

This legal obligation, which is specific to France and unique in the sporting movement, is supervised by the Autorité de la régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique (Arcom), which monitors compliance and promotes good practice in this area. The French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) supports publishers subject to this obligation by helping them to develop the content of their awareness programmes.  

Arcom's latest report on the 2022 and 2023 financial years bears witness to the commitment of the French audiovisual landscape. In 2022, 30 national channels (out of 33 subject to the requirement) had partially or fully implemented the scheme, and 34 the following year (out of 36 subject to the requirement). For Arcom and the AFLD, these good results, which also apply to local channels, represent significant progress compared with previous years. In 2018, only 19 of the 37 channels covered by the scheme complied at least partially with their obligations.

Following on from the Paris 2024 Games, which were widely used by the channels to address the issue of anti-doping, Arcom and the AFLD are encouraging broadcasters to use major sporting events to raise public awareness of the risks of doping behaviour and healthy physical activity, through varied and creative programmes. This growing awareness on the part of TV channels to associate, at least occasionally, sport with clean sport should also be part of the legacy of the Games in the fight against doping.

Report 2022 and 2023 on the fight against doping and the protection of persons practising physical and sporting activities