23 Nov 2015

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng is back from the United States of America where he attended the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) foundation board meeting.

Olopeng said in an interview that the meeting was fruitful, and that they discussed the Russia International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF) for anti-doping violations.

He said an eyesore in the Russia scandal was that some coaches were said to be implicated, adding that WADA has vowed to leave no stone unturned in its investigation as the matter has the potential of tainting its image.

Minister Olopeng said they were informed that Russia responded well and they have vowed to cooperate during investigations.

The WADA foundation board has 38 seats, but Africa with five regions, was allocated three seats. Representing Africa is Minister Olopeng, Gabon Minister of Youth and Sports, Blaise Louembe and Ethiopian Minister of Youth and Sports, Redwan Hussien.

However in January next year, Minister Olopeng will cease to be a board member and will hand over to Namibia, as the Africa representative seat in the foundation board is on a rotational basis with a membership tenure of three years.

Meanwhile, a press release from the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture explains that WADA is an international independent organisation created in 1999 to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against doping in sport in all forms.

The agency is composed and funded equally by the sports movement and governments of the world.

The release says the meeting focused on strengthening the independent compliance and regulatory function of WADA as recommended by the Independent Commission's Report.

The minister's delegation included the chairperson of Botswana National Sport Commission, Solly Reikeletseng and chief executive officer, Falcon Sedimo as well as the deputy permanent secretary in the ministry, Peter Mongwaketse.

Recently, Botswana National Olympic Committee chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho was quoted as saying the BNOC has over the years and still continues to deliver anti-doping education programmes.

They test athletes, both in and out of competition, with a view to ensure fair play and clean sport by Botswana athletes and indeed by international athletes that compete within the Botswana jurisdiction.

He said doping in sport has become a great concern, adding that not so long ago, there was a big doping scandal in cycling, involving many athletes including Lance Armstrong. Today there is the Russian doping scandal and other cases before.

“These recent cases have clearly highlighted that doping in sport is a much bigger threat than we had perhaps fathomed, and in the premise therefore, it is imperative that efforts to educate athletes and members of the entourages on the dangers of doping in sport are scaled up, as so are the general efforts to fight the scourge,” Serufho said. Ends