SPORTS LEADERS MEET TO CHAMPION THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST DOPING IN SPORT

A campaign to raise awareness against doping in sports has been heightened with local sports associations meeting with the National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) and the National Sports Council of Zambia (NOCZ).

Over 50 representatives of various sports associations on 17 September 2022 attended a training workshop in Lusaka dubbed ‘Anti-doping Awareness Programme’ where several issues were raised on how athletes can best be protected from indulging themselves in vices which can lead them into doping in sport.

Opening the workshop which comprised of two sessions for the non-Olympic and Olympic sports codes Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts Assistant Director Elite Sports Gibson Muyaule stressed the need for association leaders to make use of ideas shared and knowledge acquired to help curb any possible doping in the sport which can destroy talented budding athletes who should be bringing euphoric honours to Zambia at different competitions.

The training workshop was facilitated by NSCZ Acting General Secretary Raphael Mulenga who serves as the Board Member for Zambia of the Africa Zone VI Regional Anti-doping Organisation (RADO), NOCZ Secretary General Boniface Kambikambi and NOCZ Medical Commission Chairperson Dr. Titus Fernando.

L-R: NOCZ Secretary General Boniface Kambikambi, NSCZ Acting General Secretary Raphael Mulenga and NOCZ Medical Commission Chairperson Dr. Titus Fernando

During the workshop, NOCZ Secretary General Boniface Kambikambi expressed optimism that the knowledge acquired by sports leaders will be extended to other members adding that the workshop marked a milestone in the fight against doping in sports.

Meanwhile, NSCZ Acting General Secretary Raphael Mulenga said that an independent anti-doping body will be established which must be supported by all sports associations in Zambia. He added that clean sport is cardinal and athletes should not take any chance to risk their careers by indulging themselves in any illicit activities such as doping. He added that it has become a requirement that every athlete going for any international competition should undergo a training in Anti-Doping Electronic Learning (ADEL) which helps many athletes know the ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ of doping.

And NOCZ Medical Commission Chairperson Dr. Titus Fernando highlighted the world anti-doping code eight international standards such as education, prohibited list, laboratories, results in management, protection of privacy and personal information among others. Dr Fernando appealed to association leaders to comply with the code and be signatories of the document.

Among those who were present in the workshop were Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) Zone 6 president Alfred Foloko whose association in April 2022 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Africa Zone VI Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) to promote Olympic values and clean sport amongst athletes and Athletes Personal (ASP) in the member countries.

NOCZ President L-R: Alfred Foloko and Zambia University Sports Association (ZUSA) General Secretary Muyundana Siyanga

Foloko expressed happiness that strides are being heightened to promote clean sport by seeing sports associations and the NOC embark on programs that leverage synergies out of the collaborations of the two regional organisations.