Doping and how things (almost) never change

SINGAPORE – The other weekend, Derek Liew, my Singaporean classmate at the Asian Institute of Management, and his wife, Bee, had me and my family for dinner at the Singapore Swimming Club (SSC). As expected, the barbecue area beside one of SSC’s two Olympic-size swimming pools (50 meters, 10 lanes), was full of families enjoying Malay and Singaporean dishes.

After a few minutes, some other members of the club greeted Derek and asked for his support for the club elections due to take place in a few weeks. Conversation of course drifted to the conduct of club elections and the usual issues of financial transparency, etc. After a few more minutes, another club member involved in Singapore’s synchronized swimming came forward and, on condition of anonymity, discussed the lack of government support for the sport and what volunteers like them have to do to keep the sport alive and to put together teams for international competitions.

I just thought to myself, how things never change no matter where you are. Here you have a country like Singapore, awash with resources and threatened by neither serious economic problems nor internal strife nor any external aggression, still having to confront issues like supporting the swimming sport to the satisfaction of its stakeholders. It seems, money is never enough…and never enough especially for sports development.

And if support for sports remains to be an issue in Singapore, so is the matter of sports governance which is tremendously lacking in the Philippines.

Our good friend, 61-year -old veteran lawyer, Loh Lin Kok, was elected, albeit not without controversy, for another two year term as president of the Singapore Athletic Association (SAA) on May 23.

I met Lin Kok in 1995 in Goteborg, Sweden during the world track and field championships through another equally flamboyant athletics official, Go Teng Kok, president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

Over lunch a few days ago, Lin Kok, who, for many years was one of Singapore’s most visible public prosecutors, until he opted to go into the more financially rewarding private practice, narrated his involvement with Singapore athletics since 1982 or more than a quarter of a century ago.

Lin Kok and his 12-member executive committee were all returned unopposed at the SAA’s annual general meeting on May 23. While we were partaking of the sumptuous lunch at the Grand Asia, Lin Kok asked, “Why then did they not come forward and contest the elections?” referring to his critics and opponents that included Steven Lee, who was SAA vice president for four years and was Loh’s right hand man, until 2002 when the former decided to oppose Loh for the presidency. Lee lost by six votes, 27-33.   

Prior to his latest reelection, Loh had held the presidency of the SAA for 24 years, with only a two year absence, 2004 to 2006, when he opted to be adviser. The Straits Times reports that only bodybuilding’s Paul Chua, who stepped down last year after 29 years as president, served a national sports association longer.

Loh’s critics had criticized his alleged tyrannical ways, especially after he and the SAA dropped throwers and medal prospects Do Xian-hui and Zhang Guirong two months before the 1996 Asian Games. The two had a run in with the SAA after they failed to provide to account for their whereabouts in their native China and did not undergo dope testing.

In response to the allegations, Loh told Leonard Lim of The Straits Times, “I would prefer to see myself as a benevolent dictator, as there’s conscience in my decisions. If I wasn’t quick to take the throwers out, what would happen to Singapore’s reputation if one of them was caught for doping?”

Doping is another special concern of some sectors of Singapore’s sports community and the island-state’s goal is to step up the fight against doping, according to Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee Chairman Ng Ser Miang in an interview with the The Straits Times.

The Times reported that doping made the headlines recently after six bodybuilders, who competed last April in the National Championships, were involved in what is considered to be Singapore’s biggest drug scandal. Ng, who is also the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) vice president said, “So far, the problem has been restricted to body building which is not an Olympic sport. But we are just as concerned.”

Reports state that the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) plans to establish an independent (from SNOC’s Anti-Doping in Sports Commission) National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO). It will coordinate and drive all efforts to ensure Singapore sport is free from drugs.