Malawi intensifies battle against doping in sport : Unesco trains 30 sport managers
Malawi government through its sports implementing body National Council of Sports and the Malawi Olympic Committee (Moc) has intensified the battle against anti-doping in sports through a training of close to 30 sports administrators and some health experts in anti-doping issues.
Conducted with funding from the Malawi National Commission for Unesco, the training was held from Monday, September 23 to Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at Crown Hotel in Lilongwe, where participants came up with
several resolutions to curb or prevent cases of doping in Malawi sports.
The participants, which were drawn from various sporting disciplines also formed a new National Anti-Doping Organisation (Nado), an independent body tasked with the responsibility of handling all issues anti-doping in Malawi.
Speaking at the official opening and closing of the workshop, PS for Sports Alex Mseka and Director of Sports in the Ministry Jameson Ndalama pledged government’s total commitment in the anti-doping campaign.
“We are not sure whether the problem of doping already exists in Malawi or not but as government, we are working hand-in-hand with relevant stakeholders to fight this enemy,” said Mseka.
To demonstrate its commitment in the Anti-Doping campaign, Mseka said government, amongst other efforts ratified the Unesco Anti-Doping Code, trained special Doping Control Officers and subscribed to both
the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (Rado).
General Manager for the Zone VI Regional Anti-Doping Orgnaisation Andrew Kamanga, who facilitated the workshop alongside Moc President Oscar Kanjala, Sports Council Executive Secretary George Jana and the Director of Sports hailed the National Commission for Unesco for funding the programme.
“Much as issues of doing relate to individual athletes, the image of a country like Malawi can be compromised by the behavior of one athlete. As RADO, we are going to support Malawi’s efforts to fight Anti-Doping,” said Kamanga, who is based at the RADO headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana.
Taking his turn, Malawi National Commission for Unesco official Emmanuel Kondowe said the integrity of sport was under serious threat because of cases of doping.
“Cases of doping, manipulation and corruption in sport are increasing both at national and international level. Doping in sport results from a combination of individual, cultural, societal and physiological factors and prevention must be based on a clear understanding of the complex nature of the problem,” said Kondowe.
