ISA Announces Expansion of Medical Committee

San Diego, Calif. - October 30, 2007 - The International Surfing Association (ISA), the World Governing Authority for Surfing, has successfully expanded its own Medical Committee with the help of two prominent figures in Sports Medicine at the University of California San Diego.

Dr. Mark Bracker, a clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Founding Director of Sports Medicine at UCSD and Dr. Kenneth S. Taylor an Associate Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Director of Sports Medicine at UCSD have taken up positions as our resident medical experts for the newly created Committee.

Primarily Dr. Bracker and Dr. Taylor, along with other Committee members will be asked to provide their medical expertise and opinions for the ISA, its Executive Committee, and at ISA events.

The Medical Committee will be asked to travel with the ISA to events to cover all anti doping related issues.  According to Dr. Bracker, “This will include performing anti-doping testing, results management, therapeutic use exemption supervision and maintenance of the ISA Code.”

To view the ISA Anti-Doping Code, visit the ISA Event Resources.

As ISA events become more frequent there will be an essential demand for travel on the Medical Committee. Therefore, both Dr. Taylor and Dr. Bracker will train more doctors based out of UCSD to perform the anti-doping tests and then sign off on those doctors who are capable of performing the ISA/ WADA process.
This will help to ensure that all ISA events have properly sanctioned medical professionals, which will add more depth to the ISA. In turn, the system will provide the UCSD sports medicine fellowship with proper training and distinct qualifications in an area that may otherwise be ignored.
The Committee will work continuously on a program that recommends doctors for positions so that a self-sustaining process is effectively put in place. 

The Medical Committee will liaise with locally hired medical staff before and during events to be sure all professionals are equipped to handle surfer injuries and emergencies.
The Committee is expected to perform the same duties by themselves in areas where good medical coverage is unavailable altogether.
In addition, the Committee will deliberate before each event to discuss certain features distinct to the areas where events are held that may pose medical threats to its participants.

The newly expanded Medical Committee will help the ISA uphold its anti-doping policy and provide necessary medical expertise the ISA and its members.  For further Medical Committee information, please visit www.isasurf.org.

About Internatioanl Surfing Association
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding.
It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980. 

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since.  The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Maile Aguerre (Hawaii) and Mike Gerard (USA).

Kate Herber
International Surfing Association
Operations Manager
Phone: (760) 931-0111
Fax: (760) 931-0131
www.isasurf.org

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