Pacific nations need anti-doping programmes to be able to support their athletes and get on level terms with top nations.
This was discussed at the first-ever Pacific Sports Ministers at the Tanoa Hotel.
The President of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Witold Banka said the anti-doping topic is really important. They are here to discuss what they have to offer to athletes and how they can contribute to developing sports.
“The goal is to discuss with the ministers how they can contribute more to the anti-doping system, what they can do for the athletes from the respective countries, and to work closely with the anti-doping global regulators,” he said.
“The anti-doping code is the most important document which regulates the anti-doping system for almost all sports and countries. We are here to make sure the system is working well here and what we can do more for the athletes,” he said.
“I think the athletes deserve to compete on a level playing field. Athletes from Samoa, Fiji and many others are no different from us, like Poland, Germany, and the USA. We are all equal. Our athletes are equal. The rules have to be equal for everyone.
“When athletes are going to the OIympic Games, no matter whether you are from Samoa, Fiji, or Poland, they have to be sure that the rules are equal for everyone.”
Improvements in the system, such as education and prevention are necessary. Witold believes that Samoa is a strong sporting nation so he encourages them to support anti-doping efforts with Australia aiding in this through a memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Witold said Samoan athletes need more testing but it’s not only for Samoa but for the whole Pacific region.
“We need more education, you know, regular for instance, investigations anti-doping. This is another step for the future. Investigations plays an important role in our anti-doping policy. So I think its really important to have a good anti-doping program for the athletes not only in Samoa but from the entire region,” he said…PACNEWS/SAMOA OBSERVER