The World Anti-Doping Agency Releases 2023 Prohibited List
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published its 2023 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods.
Whether you’re an athlete or Athlete Support Personnel, it’s vital you are aware of the changes, so you don’t get caught out and end up with a ban from sport.
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) will be providing further information in October on the major changes to the 2023 List. The List will come into effect on 1 January 2023.
Three Scottish Judoka Head To Paris for the Cadet Futures Camp
JudoScotland Board Nominations
In advance of this year’s AGM and in-line with the current Articles of Association (the Articles), we gave notice on the 5th of September for the nomination of the following positions on the JudoScotland Board:
- Chair of the Board and;
- Two (2) Non-Executive Directors.
Candidates were asked to submit a pen portrait detailing their suitability for the role by Thursday 29 September 2022. The following candidates submitted an application for consideration by the JudoScotland Membership. The successful candidates will be elected at the JudoScotland AGM on the 29th of October.
Meet our Chair Nominees – Johnny Imrie and Marc Preston (Online Session)
Date & Time: Monday 24th October 6pm – 6.45pm
Registration close: Monday 24th October 9 am
An online session offers our members an informal opportunity to hear about our candidate Chair’s plans and for you to ask any questions.
Member Voting
All clubs that are eligible to vote will be contacted directly by Civica. if you have any queries please contact info@judoscotland.com.
Chair of the Board Candidates
Johnny Imrie
“To provide growth and development opportunities for every club. Review and improve the value of the membership services. To chair with transparency and integrity and be the change JudoScotland needs.”
Marc Preston
“It’s been an honour and a privilege to have been your Chairman for the past 18 months. During that time I’ve been part of the team who’ve developed the new JudoScotland 4-year strategy and I’d love the chance to now implement it.”
Non-Executive Director Candidates
David Gibson
“If elected, I would be a voice for grass roots judo, I would ensure that JudoScotland represents the recreational, performance and health aspects of judo equally.”
Mark Brien
“I will try to bring coaches, referees and officials together, working towards better competitions.”
Sarah Clark
“Judo is my life. I am passionate about judo, people and supporting others to be the best they can be.”
The 2021 JudoScotland Annual Report
The 2021 JudoScotland Annual Report
The 2021 Annual Report showcases the highlights of JudoScotland for the year 1st January - 31st December 2021. Although far from a 'normal' year for Judo activity in Scotland, there were some notable highlights as Judo activity returned.
View the video below to find out more.
BJA Weigh In Update - With Immediate Effect - For All Events and Competitions
Please note that with immediate effect there are changes to the rules for weigh ins.
This affects all competitions and events, at all levels as of 6 Oct 2022
With immediate effect, all under 18s must be weighed in through an open weigh-in.
The open weigh-in must be conducted in an open environment where the scales, players, officials and parents can be openly seen.
Players must not get changed into their judogi trousers and/or t-shirts in the weigh-in area; they must arrive already changed or use the appropriate changing rooms.
All players who are under 18 MUST weigh in wearing contest-legal judogi trousers, and a plain round-neck t-shirt.
The following allowances are to be used for open weigh ins:
| Weight Groups | Weight Allowance |
| All weight groups -66kg/ -63kg and below | 0.6kg |
| All weight groups -73kg/ -70kg and above | 0.8kg |
Where an event has both over and under 18s in a category, there must be provisions in place to keep the open weigh in separate to the closed weigh in.
An option would be to weigh all competitors in using an open weigh in, as there does not have to be a separation of under-18s from over 18s in an open weigh in but where everyone must be dressed in contest legal judogi trousers, and a plain round neck t-shirt.
We plan to review the weight allowances in January, following the British Championships.
Please note that this will shortly be shown in the tournament handbook.
If you have any questions or feedback about the above please contact events@britishjudo.org.uk
Proposed Changes to the JudoScotland Articles of Association
JudoScotland has recently undertaken a thorough review of the Articles of Association and has a number of recommended amendments for the approval of the membership.
Since the last review in 2015, standards of governance have changed significantly, and following an independent audit by KPMG earlier this year, a number of recommendations were suggested as critical for JudoScotland.
Representing our Board, Graham Campbell has led the review in recent months; he has worked closely with our new CEO Judith McCleary and other Board members to identify appropriate changes to the articles to ensure JudoScotland has a robust governance that will support us in reaching our future ambitions.
On the proposed amendments, Graham Campbell (JudoScotland Treasurer and Corporate Working Group) comments:
“The purpose of the proposed changes is to improve governance, increase diversity and align more closely with accepted business practice. If we are successful in this, we will also improve the breadth of Board expertise and be more able to support the company in strategic planning and initiatives”.
Speaking on behalf of sportscotland, our Partnership Manager Sandy Hodge comments:
“Having good governance is key to the success of any organisation. Speaking on behalf of sportscotland as an investment partner, we are in full support of the Board’s recommended changes which, if approved, will bring JudoScotland’s articles into greater alignment with the Code for Sports Governance”.
Should members have any questions related to the proposals, we will be hosting an online session on the 24th of October at 7 pm. This session is an opportunity for you to find out more from Marc Preston (Chair), Graham Campbell (Treasurer and Corporate Working Group) and Judith McCleary (Chief Executive Officer)
Full details on how eligible clubs can vote will be sent out directly via our external partner Civica on Thursday 13th of October.
World Mental Health Day
Mental health is just as important as physical health, by opening up and talking about mental health we can all play our part in removing the stigma. This World Mental Health Day we caught up with Callum Woods from Destination Judo to hear about his journey with his mental health.
You talk so openly about your struggles with mental health, for those that don't know you can you share a bit of background about your story?
"For nearly 10 years I was on Anti-depressants. However, I continue to cycle around what is known as the depression cycle. Feeling good, then feeling depressed again."
"One day I was lying on the sofa feeling so low. I looked over at my 3 children sitting on the other sofa and realised that I was there in body but never in mind. In that moment I realised that we save ourselves, but there is nothing wrong with asking for help along the way."
"I got curious about how the mind works, I hired a mindset coach and Personal trainer, and I also enrolled in a transformational life coaching course."
"I heavily invested in myself not just with money but with time and energy to create the best version of myself."
"One year ago, I stopped taking Antidepressants which I’m very proud of myself for achieving."
From your point of view, why is it important to talk about mental health?
"Depression especially has a way of making you feel isolated and alone. Hopefully, when speaking about mental health others hear something that is relatable to them. I genuinely hope it allows others to start talking too."
What is your 'tool kit' for managing your mental health? (e.g. exercise, socialising etc)
"I do a few things. Nutrition and exercise are my main tools. I also continue to be mindset coached on different aspects of my life. Now and again, I will do some meditation and the dreaded cold-water dips."
What advice would you give to your younger self around mental health?
"My advice would be to work on my wealth, health, and happiness, but do it in reverse order."
If you have been affected by anything in this article or are looking for help and advice around mental health contact SAMH , The Mental Health Foundation Scotland or your GP.
If you would like to read more about Callum's story click here.
Spotlight on Susan Wright for Scottish Women in Sport Week
Head Coach at Clyde Judo Club, JudoScotland Board Member, Competition Controller and Birmingham 2022 Volunteer, Susan Wright has experienced nearly every role within the sport. A true inspiration within the sport, we caught up with Susan, to hear about her journey in Judo and sport for Scottish Women in Sport Week.
“Judo has literally given me focus for my life, I grew up with a lot of challenges in my home life and found judo at the age of 16. I originally joined a local club and it immediately felt like I belonged somewhere for the first time in my life. I am not quite sure what my life would have become without it, but I don’t think it would have been good.”
“I have now been involved in judo for 40 years and as with all things I’ve had a mixture of experiences as a woman in sport, at my club there were very few women and some days I was the only female on the mat. I just had to be one of the boys.”
“I first got involved in the coaching aspect of judo after I took a break and had my Son, I didn’t do judo for about 5 years after and only when I was taking him along was I enticed back on the mat to help out. I then kind of followed him up the pathway, I was asked to go on the mat at the national talent development session in the west by Gary (Edwards) who was looking for a female to help at sessions and also to travel with the squad as there were not many who could commit the time.”
“I went abroad to Venray with Gary and the pre-cadet/cadet squad for the first time, and he encouraged me to take my own players away on trips to help their development and helped me to book things and told me where to go and what to do.”
“Eventually I started my own club (Clyde Judo Club) as my confidence in my abilities grew and I took players on several trips as a club coach and as a support coach.”
“I started to help at competitions as a table official not long after my son started competing at the age of 8 or 9 and Tam Brown encouraged me to go up the ladder for that and get my recorder, senior recorder and competition controller awards, I began running events for my club and then for JudoScotland.”
“I have some amazing memories and experiences that have stayed with me; the first time one of my players won the British Nationals, the first time one was selected to go abroad to compete. Being part of the gold-winning women’s team at the national team event, winning the world masters and being involved in 2 commonwealth games, one as an official at Glasgow 2014 and being part of the workforce making it happen in Birmingham are all memories that will stay with me.”
“It is so important to have visible representation for women in sport because young women and girls need that role model and need to see what a huge variety of roles there are in sport and how they could find something that fits with them and their personality, it helps so much with self-confidence and belief to have more women in the forefront to show the way.”
“I have been involved in almost every aspect of Judo and feel passionately about the sport and what I believe it can bring to young people’s lives and their outlook and prospects, not just for girls, but we lose so many in their teenage years for various reasons that we have less time to make an impact on them to make a difference in their lives.”
“Judo is so much more than a sport for me it’s a family.”
Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games Programme
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the state of Victoria and Commonwealth Games Australia have announced the full line-up of sports for the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games. Unfortunately, Judo has not been included in this cycle and will therefore not be featured at the 2026 Games. Although disappointing we are hopeful for the return of Judo to the games in 2030.
Read the full lineup of sports included in the 2026 Commonwealth Games here.
The JudoScotland 2023-27 Strategy Consultation: What You told Us
We asked for your views to help us to shape the future of Judo in Scotland. Growing & developing the number of people involved in judo whilst contributing to a better society underpins the work that JudoScotland does.
By providing your input, you will help us focus on the areas where support is needed most, and where we can influence the greatest impact.
View a summary of your feedback here:
We are taking into consideration your feedback as we create our Strategy for 2023 -2027, which will be presented to our partners, sportscotland, later this year. We hope to be able to share our new strategy with you early next year, thank you for your continued support in helping to shape the future of Judo in Scotland.