Zero tolerance on doping in S’wak
KUCHING: Sarawak will not tolerate doping among its athletes and is taking measures to ensure that they do not resort to taking drugs to win in competitions.
Sarawak Sports Corporation ( SSC) chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee, who told the Borneo Post this yesterday, said Sarawak want to be free from doping cases especially in the coming Sukma 2020 in Johor.
“It is the policy of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, SSC and Sarawak State Sports Council ( MSNS) to make sure that all sports associations in Sarawak to promote as well as to educate our athletes on the awareness of anti- doping in sports.
“Our vision is to be a sports powerhouse in the nation and we need to educate the current and future athletes and sports practitioners to be aware of doping in sports.
“As such, we have organised an anti- doping awareness seminar at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre on Wednesday ( Mar 27) and invited Anti- Doping Malaysia (ADAMAS) education officer Nur Suhaila Ithnin to speak on the importance of antidoping awareness programme for athletes.
“This seminar was also to educate athletes especially the weightlifters on the ban of using harmful and illegal substances or supplements before and during competition,” he said.
“Furthermore, weightlifting was ought to be dropped during Sukma 2020 in Johor due to numerous doping cases in Sukma 2018 in Perak.
“This seminar was also to ensure that in Sukma 2020, Sarawak will be free from doping cases,” added Ong.
Suhaila highlighted on the precautions of the surroundings before and during competitions. This seminar is very important and meaningful for young and new athletes in educating them early on the consequences of doping in sports and on a daily basis.
Seventy weightli fters from Limbang, Miri, Sibu, Sarikei and Kuching, who competed in the 5th SSC Inter- Centre Weightlifting Championship at the Customs Complex, Jalan Matang from Mar 25 to 26, attended the seminar.
Also present were Sarawak Weight l i f t ing As sociat ion president Gerald Rentap Jabu who is also Layar assemblyman, S SC s p or t s d eve lopment officer Azmina Abdul Razak ( weight li fting) and capacity bui ld ing of f icer Adi l a i l a Samshuddin.
Gerald also spoke on the importance of staying dope-free in sports while Ong encouraged the athletes to train hard and be very cautious on supplements, food and drink intake during training and competitions.