| Some athletes and members of the delegation present at the anti-doping awareness session on Friday in Ampefiloha. |
In four days, the 13th edition of the African Games will open in Accra, Ghana, from March 8 to 23. Athletes and members of the delegation that will fly to Ghana underwent anti-doping training on Friday at the Ampefiloha National Sports Academy.
Based on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) three core values of integrity, openness and excellence, the goal of this awareness raising is a world where all athletes can participate in a doping-free environment. The fight against doping aims to protect the health of athletes, in particular that of “clean athletes”, and to preserve the beneficial effects obtained in the practice of sport. By using prohibited substances or methods, those who use drugs put themselves in danger and harm their health.
Drs Rado Rakotomanga and Bianca Robert led the awareness session. Many subjects were discussed, among others, the method of raising awareness about the fight against doping, the list of doping products, the harmful effects of the use of doping, the procedures to follow, the selection of athletes to be tested ( by ranking, by random draw or targeted). Bianca Robert explained that “we must not be afraid of control because it is beneficial to the best”.
Rado Rakotomanga, for his part, underlined “that the training aims to raise awareness among sports leaders and athletes on the fight against doping. We explained to them what doping control is, anti-doping authorities, doping substances and nutrition.”
During the training, the two officials affirmed that no Malagasy athlete has tested positive for the moment.
Awareness at the international level resulted in the creation of WADA in November 1999. This proves the need to intensify the fight against doping in the sporting environment and to improve its effectiveness, to protect athletes face multiple risks for the athlete’s health and risks for society. Because practicing sports contributes to the education of young people and therefore to the future of society.
Donné Raherinjatovo