GOA Anti-Doping talks to continue this week at headquarters

Dec 03, 2017 Sports, https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...eek-at-headquarters/

Affiliates urged to take up offer

With more and more athletes falling prey to the illegal path of drug use which gives them an unfair advantage against clean athletes and the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) zero tolerance of such cheats, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) is continuing its drive to ensure that local athletes are educated with a view of staying clean.
An important part of the mandate of the GOA – Guyana’s National Anti-Doping Organisation is Anti-Doping Education and according to the association, “This is a better, more effective way of trying to ensure that our athletes are clean than just periodically testing them; which may be taken as antagonistic and punitive. Education is also less expensive and can reach more athletes than a few tests each year.”
To this end, the body has tried different options, in the past, to get athletes to education sessions – including reminding National Federations representatives at monthly meetings of the GOA that they can call on the body at any time that they have their athletes together.
”This has had very limited success. Our best result was hosting a series of talks, over a period of two months in 2016, when we were able to reach over 200 athletes,” the association has informed.
With this in mind, a new round of educational sessions commenced on Wednesday last at the new “Olympic House” building, Block ‘XXX’, Lilliendaal and their affiliates have been so advised and encouraged to make full use of the opportunity to have their athletes brought up to date with the latest on anti-doping.
It was pointed out to the affiliates that as the end of the year approaches, just one National Federation would have requested an anti-doping talk but the GOA wishes to help their affiliates to fulfill this aspect of their International Federation’s requirements.
All National and International-level athletes, Coaches and persons who have or may travel with teams and executive members of Clubs and National Federations are invited to attend these anti-doping talks.
Athletes and Team Officials long-listed or likely to travel on teams under the auspices of the Guyana Olympic Association and members of National Federations which have or hope to receive funding from the GOA are especially required to attend one of these sessions.

Following is the schedule:
– Monday December 4th – 5:00pm
– Tuesday December 5th – 5:00pm
– Wednesday December 6th – 5:00pm
– Thursday December 7th – 5:00pm