A UNIVERSITY academic has been appointed to the International Olympic Committee Medical and Scientific Commission for next year.

It’s the fourth consecutive time Professor Yannis Pitsiladis of the University of Brighton’s School of Sport and Exercise Science has been selected for the role and it is one he relishes.

The commission provides a “guiding reference for all other sports organisations on matters relating to the protection of the health of athletes”.

Mr Pitsiladis said: “Being part of this commission allows important research to be applied from laboratory to the field at the very highest level, such as the Olympic Games.

“It also enables the participation of experts at all Olympic Games including the Youth Olympic Games to evaluate and implement changes to safeguard the health of the doping free athlete.”

He made the news earlier this year as one of a team of experts aiming to find a way of pushing the marathon record below two hours – without doping or prohibited aids.

Mr Pitsiladis says he is excited about the opportunity the commission will give him to “set and oversee the agenda for positive change in sport and exercise medicine”.

The next commission meetings will be taking place from December 6 to 8. For more information on the commission’s work visit: https://bit.ly/2nCk1Pf