Celebrating the winning choice of health over harm and honesty over deceit.
Professor Arne Ljungqvist and his granddaughter by Et Purus No 1 in Monaco, December 2021. Photo: janajulian.com
Et Purus was created to honor the legacy of the living legend Professor Arne Ljungqvist. He has devoted his life long career for the health of young athletes, for clean sports and the foundation of competition – fair play.
The 93 year-old Swedish high-jumper and medical professor started his anti-doping career in 1971. Since then he has been fighting doping in sports from leading positions in the major global sports organizations: World Athletics (former IAAF), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) – which he co-founded in 1999.
In 2012, he expanded his work by establishing a foundation with the mission to fight the use of doping substances also in society, specifically targeting youth – Professor Arne Ljungqvist Anti-Doping Foundation.
On his 80th birthday reception back in 2011, he was awarded a sculpture idea created to honor his global crusade against doping in sports and in the society. It portrays the classic hand gesture ”No 1”, used all over the world by all cultures, celebrating a performance victory. The ring on the index fingertip symbolizes a ”window” into a clean and doping-free body.
The Et Purus monument is sculpted by renowned artist Sassona Norton. It is intended in a series of 20 to be placed in world cities as tangible inspirations of the conscious choice to stay away from doping – as a pure and healthy citizen and as a clean and competitive athlete.
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Raising the hand and index finger is one of the worlds most recognized body language gestures. It has been used by humans for centuries – in sports when celebrating victories, in art, at music concerts, while dancing, when making progress or just spontaneously when expressing a successful moment.
A ring is a universal symbol with extensive meaning. It represents the notions of totality, circle of life, wholeness and eternity. Without beginning or end, it is the ultimate geometric symbol. On the index fingertip of Et Purus it symbolizes an open window into a clean body. A message some has already chosen to adopt...
The hand sculpture was given the name Et Purus. It is Latin and means "and clean". Celebrating performance excellence is great, celebrating it being clean is greater. In all sports competitions it is definitely crucial – "I won an honest victory because I am fast, and clean".
The name Et Purus is also a playful and friendly connection to the classical Olympic Motto – Citius, altius, fortius – which means faster, higher, stronger: Faster, higher, stronger...and clean. Citius, altius, fortius...et purus.
Doping has been a dilemma in sports long enough. Measures have been taken in sports and the gap between cheaters and inspectors are shrinking day by day.
A greater dilemma is doping in the society, outside the world of sports. It is considered a global public health issue and is spreading down in young age groups. Doping substances are being used as "image enhancing drugs" more than "performance enhancing drugs". They are easily accessible on the Internet and even in regular stores.
Athletes are well informed, they have advisors within arms reach – coaches, doctors, dietists and lawyers. Young girls and boys with low self-esteem have few real people to ask for advice. If asking anybody, they may turn to their peers, or just simply buying the substances online, swallowing or injecting them secretly, and hoping for the best.
In every single case they take a severe risk, in some cases they get seriously ill, in others seriously aggressive or depressed, and in the worst cases – they die young.
OUR INVITATION
We are inviting individuals like yourself, the public society, the private business sector and the world of sports to share the social responsibilities needed in order to collect powerful and inspiring resources to promote pure health and clean sports, primarily to young people.
Joining us is a no-brainer. Doping is a society matter, sports is a part of the society. We need role models and people with straight spinal cords. Stepping up together and choosing health over harm and honesty over deceit is a win-win for all of us.
Thank you for your attention.