The Australian will be discussing whether federations and organisations are doing enough to protect athletes.

The panel, which will discuss how young athletes can be nurtured to play a role in their own careers through media training and business awareness, will also address how to help retired sportsmen retrain in new careers.

Thorpe will be joined by leading sports agent Phil de Picciotto; Travis Tygart, chief executive of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA); and Jonathan Edwards, triple jump world record holder who was a board member for London 2012.

Doha Goals is a new initiative designed as a call to action for the role that sport plays in driving social and economic change.

It was created under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, and was launched during the London 2012 Olympics.

"As a 15-year-old, I was in the spotlight and was lucky enough to have a strong support system," said Thorpe.

"That isn't always the case.

"Governing bodies and sporting associations need to work together to support young athletes – whether they are world-beaters or not – to ensure each one has the people they need around them who can help."

Among the prominent figures speaking at Doha Goals are London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe and Olympic and Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius.

Participants from more than 45 countries have already registered.

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