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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) medical commission has confirmed conducting investigations into the alleged use of prohibited substances and methods in swimming and water polo competitions.
In what could turn out to be a closely guarded scandal among some well-up parents, it has since emerged that some young swimmers could have been constantly overdosed with illegal substances such as sulbutamol.
Sulbutamol, also known as albuterol and marketed as Ventolin among other names, is a medication that opens up the medium and large airways in the lungs.
“There have been reports of such actions yes and a formal report has been presented by the ZOC medical commission to the ZOC board, which will then come up with a plan of action on the substantiality of the claim. Unfortunately, I am now a member of that commission and can’t give you any more detail about that,” said Dr Austin Jeans, a sports medicine specialist.
Investigations revealed that children as young as nine years have been subjected to this illegal practice, which has been going on for a while now, with them being given immune boosters through the prohibited Intravenous infusions (IV treatment).
The cost of one session, according to a WhatsApp message believed to have originated from one Julie Bond, costs $140 at Borrowdale Trauma Centre in Harare, although it is believed it’s not the only medical facility offering such services.
According to the World Anti-doping Agency, Intravenous (IV) infusions have been included on the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods under section M2 Prohibited Methods, chemical and physical manipulation since 2005. They are prohibited both in and out of competition.
IV infusions are included on the prohibited list mainly because some athletes could use this prohibited method to increase their plasma volume levels; mask the use of a prohibited substance and distort the values of their Athlete Biological Passport.
Online Reporter