Fifa launches anti-doping campaign

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FIFA have released a list of 11 rules, which the world football mother body hopes will help the sport rid itself of doping.

According to circular number 1508 from Fifa’s acting deputy secretary general Marco Villiger to all national associations, the list is a line-up of 11 simple messages selected by experts in anti-doping management in collaboration with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). They introduce basic but important advice, such as checking the list of prohibited substances, avoiding recreational drugs, taking care with food supplements and applying for therapeutic use exemptions (TUE).

“We want to create greater awareness about doping, therefore, Fifa appeals to all its member associations to distribute the enclosed posters to their clubs and national teams at all levels. The posters should be printed and displayed at all football facilities particularly for youth-level players to see. With every player that we can teach about the dangers of doping, we lower the risk of footballers taking doping substances due to a lack of knowledge,” wrote Villiger.

Villiger said education was key in the fight against doping and called on national associations to support the campaign and help reduce doping violations.

The following are Fifa’s 11 rules to prevent doping in football

1. Doping is cheating, respect your teammates and your sport but most of all yourself. You don’t want to win knowing you have cheated.

2. Get informed about doping, contact your team doctor or database such as Global Drug database online to ensure a safe and long lasting career. Always double check any medication even if it is from your doctor, it’s still your responsibility, not every doctor is aware of Fifa Anti-doping regulations and the World Anti-Doping Code.

3. Check the prohibited list- WADA’s anti-doping and prohibited list is a vital tool for all athletes; it describes the substances for classes of medications and methods that athletes are forbidden from using. Always check the list before taking any medication. If you have any doubts make sure to always check with your national anti-doping organisation

4. Focus on nutrition – a balanced and healthy diet can improve performance and provide all the nutrients and energy you need.

5. Be very careful with supplements and avoid them if you are not 100 percent sure with their contents. Supplements might contain prohibited substances either due to contamination or deliberate spiking. You are responsible for what you take and you might face sanctions. Never take substances or supplements without consulting a doctor and do everything to reduce the risk of unintentional doping

6. Do not risk your career – it is against the rules to make, sell, buy or attempt to traffic any prohibited substance or prohibited method. It is against the rules to possess, administer of attempt to administer any prohibited substance or prohibited method.

7. Avoid social drugs such as marijuana or cocaine as they are a threat to your health and can harm your playing career as well as your personal life. Both these substances are prohibited by WADA for the competition period but marijuana may remain in your body for many weeks after usage.

8. Anabolic steroids are harmful – footballers eat the right diet to maintain their fitness throughout a game. Eat a balanced diet to stay fit and healthy throughout life. Anabolic steroids are bad for you, they often lead to hair loss, severe pimples, shrinking testicles, development of breasts in males, early heart disease and potentially dangerous psychological side effects.

9. Don’t forget your whereabouts – whereabouts are an important element to catch cheats and keep sport clean. Remember to make yourself available for testing when required at a given time and place, seven days a week as well as at all training sessions and competitions. If you miss testing three times a year, you could face disciplinary action. If you are in a registered testing pool, you must submit your whereabouts.

10. Never refuse a test or tamper with a sample – fabrication, exchange or destruction of a testing sample and evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection is a violation of the rules

11. Therapeutic use exemption – if you have significant health problems, you may be able to apply for therapeutic use exemption to use a prohibited substance or method. The treatment must not improve your performance beyond a return to normal and there must be other alternative forms of treatment.

 

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