BNOC distance itself from energy drink advert
The Botswana National Olympic Committee ( BNOC) has recently raised alarm over a recent advertisement, featuring top runner, Baboloki Thebe. The 400m star who recently missed an individual qualification for the Tokyo2020 was featured holding a sports drink in the advert, which raised eyebrows among local sports industry observers and stakeholders.
Local athletes have recently become victims to positive doping cases that saw them being banned from local and international sports for years. Top athletes that recently recorded positive doping cases include Amantle Montsho( 400m) and Lydia Jele ( 400m) who is expected to conclude her ban later this year.
The BNOC recently issued a detailed and comprehensive press release that addressed their stand on the sports drink featuring Thebe.
“The Botswana National Olympic Committee ( BNOC), which also constitutes the National Anti- Doping Organization ( NADO) of the country has noted with great concern the advertisement of a ‘ Thirst Quenching Sports Drink’ endorsed by one of the top- level athletes on the national athletics team, Baboloki Thebe,” the document reads.
“The BNOC/ NADO subscribes to the policy positions taken by the World Anti- Doping Agency ( WADA) as well as the Africa Zone VI Regional Anti- Doping Organization ( RADO) on the issue of energy and nutritional supplements. As the leading global agency responsible for leading and coordinating the fight against doping in all its aspects, WADA is not involved in any certification process regarding energy or nutritional supplements and therefore does not certify or endorse manufacturers or their products.”
The BNOC further states: “Compliance with the World Anti- Doping Code is a mandatory requirement for all those involved in organized and competitive sport. The WADA Prohibited List, comprising of a com
prehensive list of banned substances and methods is part and parcel of the applicable international standards which support the implementation of the Code. The Prohibited List is updated annually and a new list comes into effect on the 1stof January every year.”
According to the BNOC, the use of energy and nutritional supplements can pose a risk to elite athletes and if an athlete tests positive they have to provide a plausible explanation of how the banned substance entered their system.
“The BNOC/ NADO, the guidance of the Africa Zone VI RADO Office, which is based in Gaborone in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development ( MYSC), always encourages local athletes to exercise great care and caution when considering the use of energy and nutritional supplements.”
The document further states: “The tangible benefits of energy and nutritional supplements are often exaggerated. The decision to use a product must be premised on sound nutritional requirements established by qualified health professionals. In this regard, Botswana has many eminently qualified and experienced health professionals, some of whom serve ports organizations, who can advise on the need and usefulness of various energy and nutritional supplements.”
Furthermore, the BNOC and NADO state that they have realized that quite a number of local athletes at various levels consume energy and nutritional supplements without a clear understanding of the various constituents of the substance they are ingesting and without consulting health professionals.
“They rely on advertisements, fancy labelling and hearsay. There is no way of establishing the veracity of what is stated in these advertisements. Furthermore, ineffective regulation of the energy and nutritional supplement industry has resulted in various untested products flooding the market and exposing the country’s elite athletes to great risk.”
For the avoidance of doubt, the BNOC and NADO have stated that they do not encourage the consumption of energy and nutritional supplements by athletes and that they actively and strongly discourage athletes who compete under the auspices of its various members from being used to advertise or endorse any energy or nutritional supplement.
“The view of the BNOC and NADO is also supported by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development in line with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) International Convention Against Doping in Sport. The Botswana Government ratified this international treaty in 2007.”