Phl athletes warned against doping

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino athletes competing in various international events, from the Southeast Asian Games to the Olympics, have been told to make sure that no illegal substance gets into their system before, during and after every competition.

Tom Carrasco, who heads the joint task force that’s overseeing the formation of the Philippine delegation to the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in August, said athletes, coaches and team officials must make sure it does not happen.

“Ingatan ninyo ang doping (Be very careful about doping),” Carrasco said.

The SEA Games task force, composed of officials from the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission, is in the process of meeting the different NSAs (national sports associations) that will field athletes to this year’s SEA Games.

While focus in these meetings fall on how the athletes are chosen and trained, Carrasco said it’s very important for everyone to be reminded about the dangers of doping.

In some cases, athletes or coaches are not aware that substances listed by the International Olympic Committee as banned and illegal are being administered or given an athlete or athletes.

Carrasco stressed that athletes and officials, particularly strength and conditioning coaches, must be aware of the list of banned substances or PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs).

In Olympics history, 141 medals have already been stripped and ordered returned due to doping, 45 of them in the sport of weightlifting. Of these cases, 31 involved Russian athletes. Only last Nov. 10 athletes that won medals during the 2008 Beijing Olympics were stripped of their medals.

Fortunately, no Filipino athlete has ever been involved in such case or has been stripped of a medal in any of the major international competitions.

“That’s why we must all be careful about doping,” said Carrasco, adding that the embarrassment of such incident does not only affect the image of the athlete but the country as well.