Anti-doping to take centre stage

Raymond Jaravaza
ANTI-DOPING will once again take centre stage when the Sports Leaders Institute of Zimbabwe (SLIZ) hosts a winter camp, with delegates from national sports associations, colleges and universities expected to interrogate the scourge that is becoming prevalent in the country.

The camp will run from 28 to 30 July in Kariba.

Last week B-Metro Sport reported that it costs a minimum of $450 to test a single athlete for anti-doping. The costs can balloon to $800 per test depending on the urgency of the results, according to the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.

The only drug testing lab in Africa that was based in Bloemfontein, South Africa, was closed last year by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) for failure to meet strict operating standards.

Over 200 delegates are expected to converge on the resort town of Kariba to tackle issues affecting sports in the country with keynote speakers addressing delegates on doping and the relation between sports and renewable energy.

a�?The director of the Kenyan Anti-doping Agency Agnes Wangiku Mandu will talk about doping in the African context as well as giving case studies that she has dealt with in her native country,a�? said SLIZ director Russell Mhiribidi.

Doping is generally defined as when an athlete takes illegal substances to enhance his or her performance.

Energy expert, United Kingdom-based Noboth Guza of Solarlux Solutions International will speak on the relation between sports and renewable energy especially in the rural areas where most parts of the country do not have access to electricity.

a�?Our rural areas lag behind in sports development because as a country we are still far from embracing renewable energy such as solar. If solar energy is embraced in sports then we should start seeing schools using electronic score boards in athletics, soccer and basketball.A� Guza will speak on the need to embrace renewable energy in sports,a�? said Mhiribidi.

The winter camp will also have officials from uniformed forces and municipality owned clubs in attendance.

Government will be represented by top officials from the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).