The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which identifies unsafe products.

This latest development enhances UKAD's ability to prevent, deter, detect and enforce any anti-doping rule violation in all sports under the World Anti-Doping Code, officials there claimed.

Andy Parkinson, the chief executive of UKAD, said: "When creating UK Anti-Doping as an independent agency in 2009, our vision was to build a centralised body that firstly removed the conflict of interest of sports in the area of doping and secondly allowed us to establish partnerships with public authorities.

"Today, we are delighted to formalise our already strong partnerships with SOCA and MHRA so as to strengthen our ability to tackle the supply chain of doping related substances and intensify our activities in the global fight against doping in sport.

"This should send another clear message to those who are considering trafficking or supplying doping substances, that the net is closing in and we are doing all we can to protect the rights of athletes to compete in doping-free sport."

The MoUs have been developed over many months and ensure that any information shared is done so in keeping with relevant legislative requirements.

It is anticipated that a final MoU will be signed with the UK Border Agency (UKBA) in the near future, complimenting the various skills, expertise and responsibilities of SOCA and the MHRA.

SOCA Director General Trevor Pearce said: "Good information sharing is at the heart of effective law enforcement.

"SOCA's partnership with UK Anti-Doping will not only help them target traffickers but will also protect athletes."

Information will be shared with UKAD by both SOCA and MHRA when it relates to the detection, deterrence, enforcement or prevention of an anti-doping rule violation.

UKAD will share information with SOCA when it relates to the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of serious organised crime, or the reduction of crime and with MHRA when it relates to the detection, deterrence, enforcement or prevention of statutory breaches of the medicines and medical devices legislation relating to the sale, supply and distribution of medical products for human use

MHRA Director of Inspection, Enforcement and Standards Gerald Heddell said "MHRA is pleased to sign an MoU with UK Anti-Doping and formalise a mutually beneficial arrangement between our two organisations.

"The MHRA has a remit to protect public health through safeguarding the safety and quality of medicines on the UK marketplace.

"Athletes consuming performance-enhancing drugs may be taking unlicensed medicines which have no proven compliance with set standards on safety and quality.

"MHRA look forward to the exchange of information which will assist to identify unsafe medicines being available in the UK.MHRA congratulate UK Anti-Doping on the development and signing of three MoUs with partner agencies - SOCA and UKBA."

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