FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE GYMNASTIQUE
79
th
FIG Congress & General Assembly Cancun (MEX) 2012
FIG Medical Commission "Report"
By Dr Michel Léglise, President Medical Commission
During this four-year cycle, the FIG Medical Commission has committed itself to putting in place
and managing a large number of initiatives designed to safeguard the health of gymnasts across
all disciplines and at all levels, placing a particular emphasis on athletes during the growth phase.
Rules concerning
the medical provisions for FIG competitions in particular those relating to
the World Cup and World Championships have continued to evolve, taking into account the
growing body of experience and those areas in which some organisers may lack the required
resources or expertise. Rules have been tightened and organiser responsibilities clarified with
regard to hospital facilities and access to emergency services, with heavy sanctions introduced for
those who fail to comply. The requirements for the provision of adequate medical insurance cover
for all gymnasts have also been strengthened.
Accident reports documenting all incidents are compiled for every FIG competition. These, in
turn, are used to compile statistical data categorised by discipline, apparatus, accreditation, type of
movement, type of accident, anatomical localisation etc.
These statistics provide important indicators in refining all preventive models, in terms of gymnastic
equipment, the Code of Points and techniques.
It is well known that
the Code of Points can have direct consequences for the health of the
gymnasts, in terms of both chronic problems and serious accidents. The FIG doctor has been
invited to attend all seminars and meetings relating to the preparation of new Codes of Points for
the next cycle. His views on biomechanics and injury prevention have been taken into account
throughout.
In 1997, the FIG Medical Commission launched an ongoing research programme looking at the
biology, physiology and physical development of elite gymnasts (in MAG, WAG and RG). Very
broadly speaking, the programme involves taking voluntary and anonymous saliva samples from
gymnasts for hormone and biological analysis, as well as bone density, fat and muscle mass
measurements. As the procedure for taking these measurements is both quick and non-traumatic,
it is possible to follow the endocrine and physical development of a large number of gymnasts and
to adapt physical preparation methods accordingly. All of the results are available on the FIG
website and in various international scientific reviews.
The FIG itself publishes its own series of articles on sports medicine, three times a year. Issue No
12 in this series, which covers a whole range of the latest scientific findings and their practical
applications for the sport, is currently being prepared and will soon be available on the FIG
website.
The FIG Medical Commission has adopted the Olympic Movement Medical Code, which is a key
document and point of reference for the protection of athletes' health.
The President of the FIG Medical Commission is an active member of the various commissions
and working groups of international bodies such as the IOC, the Association of Summer Olympic
International Federations (ASOIF), the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) and the
London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG). The Commission has forged
strong links with all of these institutions.
The fight against doping
The FIG has adopted a clear `zero tolerance' stance on doping. Rules must be strictly enforced,
though a human approach should be adopted in doing so. Educational programmes and
information disseminated by the FIG have ensured that gymnasts, particularly those at the elite
level, now understand the importance of working together and accepting constraints, such as
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