The Games of the Small States of Europe’s (GSSE) independent clean sport programme will be led by the International Testing Agency (ITA) in Malta this summer.

Thanks to the European Olympic Committees (EOC) partnership with the ITA, an agreement has been signed which will see the internationally recognised body run testing in Valletta for the 19^th edition of the GSSE between 28 May and 3 June 2023.

The testing operations will be implemented in collaboration with the Organising Committee of Malta 2023 and the Maltese National Anti-Doping Organisation, and will ensure that the Games remain fair for all athletes.

EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi welcomed the agreement and spoke about the continued need to be vigilant against doping in sport.

Pagnozzi said: “The EOC is delighted to further strengthen our partnership with the ITA. They will play a vital role in ensuring the GSSE is a clean competition.

“We operate professional testing programmes at all our events and know that we must continue and strengthen our commitment in the fight for fair sport.”

As well as running the testing operations at the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival Friuli Venezia Giulia 2023 in January, the ITA will also partner with the EOC at the European Games Kraków Małopolska 2023 this summer and their Director General Benjamin Cohen was delighted to continue the partnership.

He said: “With the European Youth Olympic Festivals and the European Games taking place this year, our clean sport activities at the GSSE will mark another important milestone as part of the close partnership we have with the European Olympic Committees.

President of the Maltese Olympic Committee Julian Pace Bonello said: “I wish to thank EOC and ITA for entrusting us and for their commitment to clean sport and the protection of all European athletes.”

“We are very grateful to the European Olympic Committees for their assistance in this vital aspect of our Games. We are in dialogue with both the International Testing Agency and the Maltese NADO and we are convinced that everything is being done to ensure a clean and fair Games for all competing athletes.”