Mega plan underway to curb doping menace

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Director General of the Institute of Sports Medicine and Chairman of the National Anti Doping Organization Dr. Geethanjan Mendis stated that a mega plan is underway to curb the menace of doping in the country.

He pointed out that under the 'Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma' the Institute of Sports Medicine in collaboration with the National Anti Doping Organization have launched a series of new projects aimed at preventing this menance in other parts of the country.

As a result a fully qualified team of doctors have been deployed and will function around the clock in Colombo and in the outstations with even flying squads available to do anti doping in the schools and clubs.

Following are the excerpts from the interview.

Q: There has been an increase in the number of incidents related to doping tests this year?

A: We have had three cases in 2009 and in 2010 also three cases. But in 2011 so far we have had five cases. So there is an increase in numbers. The reason is probably because they are not trained enough and as they do not have enough performances and they take these to improve their performances.

And most of these cases they have not even told their coach, they have not even told their trainer they have not even told their team doctor.

Q: Why do most athletes take these banned substances?

A: These sportsmen and sportswomen take various drugs to improve their performances when their performances are not good. They do that because they need to improve their power, speed strength and endurance.

So when these things are low they tend to take these banned substances to improve their performances. But by taking those there is unfairness to the other athletes. And also on the long run their body perishes.

Q: What are the rules related to banned substances?

A: There are introduction of rules by the World Anti Doping Agency to curb this menace. Therefore they have introduced rules and regulations by the WADA and they have appointed an Anti Doping Agency for Sri Lanka called Anti Doping Organization of Sri Lanka for which I am the Chairman.

Now the Anti Doping Organization has to carry out anti doping testing to prevent these menace. So we are carrying out at least 200 tests for a year.

Q: How much of funds have your organization allocated for this task?

A: The Sports Medicine Institute which is a Government funded organization spends more than Rs. 20 million for a year giving free medicines, free vitamins and all protein substances free of charge to all national sportsmen and women of all national bodies.

That is a big amount of spending to curb this menace. The Sports Medicine Institute of Sri Lanka is fully responsible for all medicines they are been given. There is a rule that they must take medicine only from the Institute of Sports Medicine.

This year because of the menace we have increased the number to 500 anti doping tests.

Each test cost 200 US dollars. So it is a lot of money for the Government. But these sportsmen and women are irresponsible and their coaches and trainers are also behaving in the same manner.

They should know what their sportsmen and sportswomen are taking. With this irresponsibility the Government has to put out so much of money to these testing. But we are going ahead with it.

If by any chance they get medicine from outside immediately they must inform the Institute of Sports Medicine because we have computerized what patients are taking and each one has a file.

They must always inform the coach if they take any medicine.

All these cases that have happened so far they have never told the coach, they have never told the trainer and they have never told the team doctor.

Q: What are the new rules that you are implementing to curb this menace?

A: If someone is caught for doping not only the competitor but even the coach could be penalized. Why they are called banned substances because they are banned for a reason.

There are five categories steroids, stimulants, diuretics, blood doping and all ansilad doping.

All these categories and things are available in Sri Lanka. So they must not take it and that is completely banned. If they take hereafter there will be strict punishment.

Q: What steps have your organization taken to educate the sportsmen and women regarding the banned drugs?

A: There have been awareness seminars, all national sportsmen and women, their coaches their administrators have been well informed. There is a seminar at least once in two weeks in this Institute of Sports Medicine.

All those cases that have come this year have taken place with their knowledge. That is they are doing against the regulations and it is a violation of rules because they know exactly what they are doing.

We will strictly adhere to the national anti doping regulations because Sri Lankan Government has signed three conventions with the World Anti Doping Agency. We have to abide by their rules.

Once they give a ruling and once they say someone is positive and to impose the penalties we have to do it. We can't go against the WADA rules. So that's what we are doing.

Q: What kind of support you have received from the Government to complete this task?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa is fully concerned because he is a sportsman he is a sports lover and he has been supporting this Institute of Sports Medicine from the start and from the time I knew him.

He is always supporting us. We can always tell our problems to him. He has given all orders to stop this menace. Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage is also very concerned. He is always helping the Institute of Sports Medicine and the Anti Doping Organization.

Q: What is your main role as the Head of the Institute of Sports Medicine and Anti Doping organization?

A: At the Institute of Sports Medicine I have to see all aspects of all medical requirements of sportsmen and women. That means looking after their fitness looking after their bio vitamin side nutrition, psychology, injuries prevention and treatment, their hygiene team doctor service and anti doping.

But the anti doping subject itself comes under the National Anti Doping Organization and their main aim is to curb this menace of doping.

Q: What are the challenges you are facing with the expanding of the number of doping tests this year?

A: We have eight doctors who are doing full time. They are doing this anti doping testing. Apart from that we have 50 doctors who are trained in anti doping and they are called Doping Control Officers.

They are doctors from outside hospitals they have been trained and whenever we want we can get their services. Last week we did the schools rugby in Kandy and the Kandy Sports Ministry Unit doctors did the testing.

So we have enough staff to do the dope control work. It is just that the problem of doing 500 tests unlike last year where we did only 200 tests.

Q: Do you see a danger that this menace could spread into the schools as well?

A: Unfortunately in schools some elements which are with these people they are the ones who prescribe these without the knowledge of the coaches and so on. We have also asked them to come for inquiries as we are going to black list them.

No one should take any banned substances. We have told their coaches given a nice little booklet where everything is mentioned in it. We have already written to the Ministry of Education asking for permission and in addition to that we have also written to the Schools Rugby Football Association and Principals of schools that we will have flying squads to come and do anti doping tests in schools.

Even club rugby it is the same thing. Now the season is on so we are concentrating on rugby this time.

Q: What are the decisions the Sports Ministry have taken to prevent this menace?

A: We have also taken three more decisions. One is when they go for international events either the coach should take up the responsibility that they have not taken any drugs or medicines or protein supplements apart from the Institute of Sports Medicine.

If the coach says that they have not taken any medicine then we take the coaches letter. Then we can go by that. Otherwise we are doing testing on them prior to going abroad to overcome this menace.

Number two is that we are doing a very sophisticated and very elegant awareness program where leaflets will be given, seminars will be conducted, banners will be displayed and messages from people who have taken drugs and what problems they have got into will be told to the other sportsmen and women.

Number three is that coaches will be responsible hereafter and coaches will also be penalized. These three actions will be taken immediately by the Ministry of Sports.

Q: What are the after effects of the banned substances?

A: The after effects are of course first of all it is unfair to the other sportsmen and sportswomen. Number two is decaying of the body, bone decay, fractures can occur, muscle waste in the long run, body organ decay, you can get heart attacks lung infections, bowel damage ulcers and in the long run even cancers.

In the brain there will be lack of knowledge with the deterioration of the higher functions. Nerves decay.

Q: Have you expanded your organization in the other Districts in an attempt to prevent this menace?

A: We have opened District Units in Kandy, Peradeniya, Kurunegala, Negombo, Homagama, Matara, Wellawaya, Galle and Colombo hospitals. All these units are manned by doctors who know sports medicine.

If they prescribe it is OK. That is acceptable. We are hope to start 12 more sports medicine units in the Districts which is in the 'Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma'. We are going ahead with this program and consultant services are also available at the Institute of Sports Medicine.

Q: What is your message for the sportsmen and women in this country?

A: The message is that all these people have taken the drugs having known that they will fall into trouble. It is a black mark for the country. That is why we are very concerned that this should be stopped.

And specially our international sports stars of fame when they get these they become zero overnight. It is very bad for the them as well as for the country as a whole.