FASANOC hosts anti-doping day with ‘play true’ theme
THE Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) last week (April 9, 2021) joined the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in the celebration of Play True Day which is celebrated every year in April.
FASANOC through its Athletes and Communities Engagement (ACE) program has been at the forefront of promoting clean sport during its outreach programs which are held at sporting events and at community engagements.
The ACE program serves FASANOC’s vision to “inspire the people of Fiji through sporting excellence” through its purpose which is to encourage, engage and empower athlete leaders and communities in Fiji using national athletes known as champions to advocate and inform the public on the Olympics values, true spirit of sport and social messages that also includes “play true”.
FASANOC’s ACE program’s “play true” advocacy component covers anti-doping rule violations, athletes’ roles and responsibilities, testing processes and anti-doping.
Athletes, but also national and regional anti-doping organisations, sports federations, governments, Major Event Organisers (MEOs) and other anti-doping stakeholders from around the world have been invited to answer the question: “What does play true mean to you?”, which is this year’s theme of Play True Day.
Champion and basketball rep Leah Seru said play true for her meant being respectful of the sport and her teammates.
“Play true” also means being drug free, says football rep Laisani Mataele.
Champion gymnast Selevasio Stino said play true also meant having a level and fair competition.
ACE co-ordinator Jeegar Bhavsar said it was important for the program to raise awareness among athletes, the sporting public and stakeholders about the importance of protecting clean sport through its “play true” advocacy component.
“This year we were fortunate to share the “play true” component with the Fiji women’s rugby sevens team that is preparing for the Olympic Games later this year,” he said.
“We were also able to share the same “play true” component with communities along the Suva-Nausori corridor in March this year.” Since 2014, Play True Day has been celebrated every year in April by the IOC, WADA and the anti-doping community worldwide.
The IOC joined WADA in encouraging athletes to take part in the #PlayTrueDay social media campaign and make their own play true pledge on their handles.
To protect clean athletes, the IOC has implemented several programs and initiatives, such as a comprehensive pre-Games testing program, a long-term program to extend the storage of pre-Games samples to 10 years, and the reanalysis of samples from past Games.
With little more than 100 days to go to Tokyo 2020, the IOC wants to reaffirm the importance of the fight against doping, and is working closely with WADA and the International Testing Agency (ITA) to allow athletes to compete in a fair and safe environment in Tokyo.
The most extensive pre-Games anti-doping program in the history of the Olympic Games is being implemented for Tokyo 2020.
In addition to providing assistance for the anti-doping program that will be co-ordinated by the ITA during the Games, WADA is also ensuring that the accredited laboratory in Tokyo will be prepared for the challenge that awaits it.
With regard to COVID-19 vaccines, WADA clarified its positioning on December 11, 2020. The agency is highly recommending them, and they are not known to contain any substance or method on the prohibited list or to interfere with anti-doping analysis.