Malawi hockey association strict on anti-doping

Hockey Association of Malawi (Ham) will this season mete out severe punishments to players and officials who will be found to be under influence of drugs and alcohol.

Hockey season on
Hockey season on

In a statement issued on Thursday, Ham said “alcohol and any other substances and practices locally known to have negative effect on the health of an athlete, whether immediate or later in life, shall  be punishable as if it was a drug offence and any  officials or persons known to influence the start  and continuity of use of the substance, practice  by an athlete will equally be punished by Ham”.

It continues to say that “umpires and judges have the authority to remove an official and or player if
he is under the influence of alcohol or any other substances.

“Players and officials will be suspended for 1 year if he/she is found playing under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs and the club would be penalised.”

The 2016 Hockey season officially kicked off last weekend at Country Club Limbe with the launch of the First Merchant Bank (FMB) leagues where there were exhibition games and a colourful trophy parade.

“Once again, FMB has come through as a true partner of hockey with an increased sponsorship of K2.5 million for the 8-aside’s and 11-aside’s leagues for the 2016 year.

“The 8-a-side leagues got underway on Sunday 12th June and will run through the end of June. A total of five ladies teams will play two rounds and seven men’s teams will play one round. Total prize  money of K450,000 is at stake for the 8’s.

The 8-aside’s prize money is K100,000, runners-up K75,000 and third-placed K50,000 for both the men’s and the ladies’.

For the Premier leagues – the FMB 11’s – which will kick off end of July or early August, the prize money is K1.150 million, with the champions going away with K300,000, K175,000 for runners up and K100,000 for third Place.

Ham said preparations for a club International tournament are on-going where it is expected thay
Lusaka Sharks of Zambia, bothe men and ladies, will participate over the weekend of July 16.

In order to uplift the level of professionalism in the handling of the games as well as coaching, there have been course that Ham conducted in the pre-season period.

Nine ladies and seven men attended the coaching  course, the umpires course had seven participants while the judges course had six. Additional course for 10 is in the offing.

Ham is also asking teams to send at least two representatives for a First Aid training course to be held in Blantyre before the club Internationals.

“Every club will agree that it has become evident that each club needs to have individuals that are conversant with basic first aid and proper handling of sports injuries.

“Ham is also pleased that the revival of Youth and Schools Hockey has received timely support from Monolux Paints and Central High School.

“From mid-May to June this year, Monolux  Paints sponsored the Youth Leagues for Under-10, 14 and 17 at K300,000. We anticipate the return of the Monolux Youth Leagues in the new school year in September/October.

“Central High School also partnered with Ham to host a secondary schools tournament at its campus in Limbe on 4th June 2016. The school’s headmaster Mr. Mishrant has generously offered to host another bigger secondary schools tournament over a couple of weekends in October,” Ham said.

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