The project OTTY – Only Thanks To Yourself aims to prevent the use of doping substances among adolescents engaged in amateur sports, by creating safe, inclusive environments rooted in the positive values of sport. Despite increasing awareness at the European level about the dangers of doping, the lack of specific data and targeted strategies for young people highlights the need for structured preventive and educational interventions.

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The initiative builds on the direct experience of the lead association, which over the years has identified cases of adolescents at risk of doping and has implemented training and awareness-raising activities with the support of sport experts and psychologists. This process revealed three main risk factors – family environment, sport system, and society – with the project focusing specifically on the sport system and the key role of coaches and youth workers.

The project foresees training activities and exchange of good practices among sports associations from Italy, Portugal, and Romania, leading to the development of the OTTY METHOD: a practical and freely downloadable tool providing youth sport workers with guidelines, exercises, and activities to educate young people about the risks of doping, promote healthy lifestyles, and foster awareness of sport as a pathway for personal and social growth.

Key deliverables include three thematic manuals on doping and risk factors, on the educational role of youth sport workers, and on good prevention practices; a European advocacy campaign (Only Thanks To Yourself); the social campaign #OTTYAmbassador to train and recognize youth sport workers as ambassadors against doping; and a dedicated project website for dissemination of materials.

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OTTY contributes to the objectives of the EU Work Plan for Sport 2021–2024, reinforcing sport integrity and values, promoting health, social cohesion and active citizenship, and developing the skills of both coaches and young athletes. Through international cooperation and the commitment of the partner organizations, the project aims to strengthen the sport system’s capacity to prevent doping, bringing young people closer to sport as a healthy, conscious lifestyle free from harmful shortcuts.