Senior officer to chair UKAD
A former director general of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) has been appointed to lead the fight against doping in sport.
A former director general of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) has been appointed to lead the fight against doping in sport.
Trevor Pearce CBE QPM will take over from another former senior police officer as chair of UK Anti-doping (UKAD) on Thursday (February 23).
Culture Secretary, the Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, said: Trevor Pearce brings with him a wealth of experience in investigations and intelligence – areas that are crucial in the fight against doping in sport.
I am sure that he will help further strengthen UKADs reputation as one of the leading anti-doping agencies in the world and play a major role in promoting the importance of clean sport.
Mr Pearce retired from the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2015 after 40 years in law enforcement, during which he served as director general of both the National Crime Squad and the SOCA.
Before retiring he was NCA Director of Special Investigations, leading Operation Stovewood, an independent investigation into criminal allegations of non-familial child sexual exploitation in Rotherham.
Since leaving law enforcement Mr Pearce has taken up roles as a Commissioner of the Gambling Commission and was appointed a UKAD Board member in 2016.
Speaking about the appointment, UKAD Chief Executive Nicole Sapstead said: “As a pre-existing member of the UKAD Board, Trevor understands the landscape of anti-doping and the various challenges we face. Im delighted that we will now benefit further from Trevors insight and expertise.
She added that Mr Pearces arrival is tempered by sadness at Mr Kenworthys departure. David Kenworthy is a former chief constable of North Yorkshire Police and has chaired UKAD since 2009.
We owe David a great debt of gratitude for his outstanding leadership and his championing of anti-doping over the past seven years. In both our outgoing and incoming chairs, we couldnt have wished for better appointments, Ms Sapstead said.
Ms Bradley added: I would also like to thank outgoing chair David Kenworthy for his excellent work at the helm of the organisation over the last seven years.
Trevor Pearce said: I am delighted to have been appointed to succeed David Kenworthy as Chair of UK Anti-Doping. David has done so much to establish the organisation, making it one of the worlds leading anti-doping agencies.
I am now looking forward to working with the UKAD Board, Chief Executive and staff to ensure we build on these foundations, to ensure that everyones right to clean sport is protected in the UK and abroad.