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Zimbabwe Rugby Union’s General Manager, Sifiso Made, made it clear that they were firm when it comes to fighting doping.
This comes against the background of the Under-21 national team being caught in a doping controversy last year.
Made urged teams to consult with qualified medical practitioners before taking any substances which they believe will aid in their performance or muscle recovery.
“Zimbabweans are generally smaller people in built compared to players from the countries we play against and players at times go to extremes when trying to gain mass.
“ZRU, in accordance with the IRB’s ‘Keep Rugby Clean” campaign, will be stationed at Prince Edward during the rugby festival and we will assist with awareness programmes.
“We have awareness programmes such as coaching clinics and other events but we face major challenges in implementing more effective anti-doping measures,” he said.
He highlighted that lack of facilities and adequate funding were limiting their fight against doping.
Currently there is no laboratory that can instantly conduct testing of players and specimens have to be sent to South Africa.
This slows down the process and comes as an additional cost to the ZRU which, just like the Cottco organising committee, is mainly run by volunteers.
Over 5000 players will take part in this year’s festival which will make it even more difficult for tournament organisers and the ZRU to monitor doping as well as they would have wanted.
The IRB’s official website gave public notice of an unsanctioned drug that is circulating in the black market.
“It has come to WADA’s attention that the black market substance GW501516 is being sold to and used by some athletes.
“The side effect of this chemical compound is so serious that WADA is taking the rare step of warning ‘cheats’ to ensure that there is complete awareness of the possible health risks to athletes who succumb to the temptation of using GW501516 for performance enhancement.
“GW501516 was a developmental drug that was withdrawn from research by the pharmaceutical company and terminated when serious toxicities were discovered in pre-clinical studies,” said the statement.
Cottco Rugy Festival organising chairman and Prince Edward head coach, Sebastian Garikayi, said they were on the lookout:
“Some guy came to one of our training sessions a week ago and tried to sell pills and powders to our boys. We were lucky to catch him and immediately kicked him out of the schools grounds.
“If anyone wants to sell anything to our boys then they have to go through proper channels,” he said.
Online Reporter