Doping agency sniffs
bogang Ditsele were all picked to conduct routine checks of any doping practices.
Players and the football community awaits results of the test. As the wait continues, Botswana Football League ( CEO) Solomon Ramochohlwane revealed that local clubs and players have been briefed before about desisting from using performance enhancing drugs. “It is not a new thing to happen in our football, anti- doping tests have been conducted before. Our players have been educated about the dangers of using performance enhancing drugs. As the BFL, we may have not held any educational sessions on the topic but I’m well aware that workshops have been conducted before regarding education on anti- doping. Our players know about the consequences of doping, they know about all prohibited performance enhancing drugs so this is nothing new really,” BFL Chief Executive Officer, Solomon Ramochohlwane explained.
There has been calls by some of the clubs’ medical doctors for the local agents of WADA to come closer and join forces with the teams to promote anti- doping education within football. Some team doctors’ claim that, despite the fact that their core mandate is the health of players, they are left in the dark on information relating to doping to the players. “Their approach in Royal Aria was not up to the expected standards, we are stakeholders in this fight against doping. As a medical doctor, I have to account for any result from the test and for me to be able to give a comprehensive report I have to also be empowered. At the moment most of us are just in the dark about the whole situation but I wish for more engagements between us and the WADA agents so that we are also able to help in this exercise,” one of the Premier League’s club team doctor revealed on the basis of anonymity.
“Collective effort by Anti- Doping team and BFL clubs is critical in this fight, the battle is not for anti- doping team alone because it is us who have to know and monitor what our players consume, we have to educate them more and sensitize them about the repercussions of doping and even refusing to test,” the source added. He further warmed players and the general public against the use of energy drinks as the substances contained in the drinks could be dangerous to the well being of people in the long run. He said athletes must be mindful of the food and drinks they consume as there are plenty of substances that can land them on the wrong side of anti- doping tests.
Prior to the 2010 World Cup, WADA announced doubling the punishment for first time offenders from two to four years or even a life time ban, as the fight to prevent doping in sport continues, however there are exceptions depending on the severity of each case. A new regulation also offered athletes accused of possible doping ‘ immunity’ from punishment should they present substantial information on knowledge about their cases. As per FIFA guidelines, all players are obliged to undergo doping test which include amongst others, urine and blood samples. Local sporting code that has been under the close eye of the anti- doping agency is athletics. However, the testing exercise is reportedly very expensive which has made it difficult for the local agents to conduct numerous tests across various sporting codes.