A series of important international assignments are coming up and we should be properly looking after our athletes who are currently undergoing training at various centres of the country. It has been reported that a key national player is under investigation for doping. Although the eventual finding is yet to be known, there are fears that the player has used performance-enhancing drugs. When the report of the dope test is border-line then investigation is necessary. Currently there is no word from the player, federation and the relevant bodies about what is going on. Hope things go in the right direction and we don’t lose this player.

The basic purpose of my writing this article is to tell the authorities that we should properly take care of our athletes. We should keep educating them constantly and should make them realize that the consequences of doping are too dangerous and this may eat up their entire careers.

We have seen in the recent past that three of our athletes tested positive following the South Asian Games in Nepal and we lost them due to suspension. Among them one was an Olympian. These athletes were using supplements without consulting the authorities.

In the current scenario when loads of major events are ahead Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) should centralise the training camps. All camps should be held at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad where it will be easy to keep a tight check on the athletes and they can be educated frequently and protected from the menace of doping.

There should be strict rules and regulations during the camp so that athletes could learn how to live in an environment where one could not cross the limits. Another big issue is that some of our federations show more leniency as they allow their players to undergo training at their homes which is not a right approach. When an official camp is in progress somewhere all probables for a future event should train in that camp. How the authorities will know about their players who train at their own homes as we see in some cases. I would not mention names of the players here who train on their own despite the fact that official camps are also in progress.

Recently, a key player refused to join the official camp and told the authorities that he is undergoing training at his hometown and is making good progress. The authorities should direct him to go to the official camp, otherwise his name should be removed from the list of probables for the Commonwealth Games.

There are various ways to control doping. However the best way is to keep educating the players and inform them with examples how this menace has destroyed careers of some great players so far. Even those who have faced ban in the past because of this issue and have now returned to the international circuit may be engaged to deliver lectures to the existing players and share with them what wrong they had done and what were its impact on their careers and even families. Random testing from NADO during national camps, departmental camps, national championships, trials for international events and Games will be of high value. But eventually it will be the state which will have to fund NADO for the task which is a never-ending process. It’s a huge issue and for counter it national federations’ role will also be of paramount importance.

Those disciplines, where more strength and power is required, should be specifically targeted and their athletes’ regular tests should be conducted.

Despite every measure eventually it is the main responsibility of the athletes to take care of their careers, their health and their families and reputation as single dope positive may damage their entire life and it would always remain a blot on their characters also.

Players should not seek for short-cuts and should establish their careers organically by working hard and doing training on the most scientific lines. I have seen so many players who don’t get a single tablet without consulting responsible doctors because they know that intake of any prohibited substance may create problems for them. So extra care is required for obstructing such a menace. As mostly leading players come from departments so it is the responsibility of the departments also to keep a tight check on their athletes and their behaviour and should not become a party with the cheats who try to get medals through wrong ways for material gains. It’s a challenge and we should cope with it through a solid strategy.

73.alam@gmail.com