The 2-day Doping Awareness Seminar for Pakistan’s Commonwealth Games contingent got underway at Nishtar Park Sports Complex E-Library under the auspices of Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab and Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) Pakistan on Saturday.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz was the chief guest on this occasion while Director General Sports Punjab Javed Chohan, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Secretary General Khalid Mahmood were the guests of honour on this occasion. Senior POA official Capt (retd) Abid Qadri presented a souvenir to Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz on behalf of POA.
Several sports dignitaries such as hockey legend Manzoor ul Hasan Sr, Manager national hockey team Kh Junaid, Captain of national women cricket teams Bisma Maroof, Shafiq Chishti (kabaddi), Arshad Nadeem (javelin throw, athletics), World Champion Beach Wrestling Inam Butt, weightlifter Nooh Dastgir Butt and several top officials from various sports associations and federations also participated in the Doping Awareness Seminar.
Member Medical Committee Olympic Council of Asia and Secretary Medical Commission of CGA Pakistan Dr Asad Abbas, Member Medical Commission POA Maj (retd) Dr Lubna Sibtain and Member Executive Committee POA, Chairman and CEO Pakistan Swimming Federation Maj (retd) Majid Waseem delivered lectures to Pakistan athletes, coaches, managers and other team officials on Doping and Good Conduct and other important issues during the seminar.
Addressing the Doping Awareness Seminar, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said that the sport has become more competitive in the modern era. “In our time, the 70 percent focus of different national teams were on skill and 30 percent on fitness but now the scenario has changed altogether and nowadays all the sports teams are focusing equally on skill and fitness of the athletes”.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz further said that this seminar has been arranged to educate the athletes and other officials of Pakistan contingent about the proper usage of diet and medicines. “We are fully emphasizing on developing a clean sports environment and it is for sure that this kind of environment produces true sports heroes”.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz maintained that all sports stakeholders should groom all players from a young age in a healthy atmosphere. “How we can forget the God-gifted fast bowlers Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir who both ruined their career due to their involvement in negative activities and we must remember that the pace duo were not groomed properly in the initial stages of their career and resultantly they got involved in spot-fixing and drugs scandals.”
Video message of President Commonwealth Games Federation Dame Louise Martin was also shown at the seminar. She lauded the holding of Doping Awareness Seminar and urged the Pakistani athletes to follow clean sports policy in upcoming Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in Birmingham, England from July 28 to August 8, 2022.
POA President Lt-Gen (retd) Arif Hasan in his video link address highlighted the importance of doping awareness ahead of an international sports event. He said Pakistan contingent must exhibit good conduct and act upon zero tolerance policy during the mega event of Commonwealth Games.
POA President Lt-Gen (retd) Arif Hasan urged the Pakistan athletes to not only win medals but also emerged as role models through their strong character and good conduct. He also thanked Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab and Sports Board Punjab for making excellent arrangements for the holding of the Doping Awareness Seminar.
In his address, POA Secretary General Khalid Mahmood said POA has been organizing Doping Awareness Seminars ahead of every international sports event during the last six, seven years. “Being parent body, we are performing our duty but at the same time all the sports federations, associations and all athletes individually should take interest in this healthy activity”.
POA Secretary General Khalid Mahmood appreciated Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab and Sports Board Punjab for extending all facilities for organizing Doping Awareness Seminars. He termed it a big contribution on the part of Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab and Sports Board Punjab.
Member Medical Commission POA and Pakistan’s first IOC-certified Sports Physician Maj (retd) Dr Lubna Sibtain in her lecture threw light on the role of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and its code of conduct. She said one unintentional doping violation can destroy the career of a top athlete. She also discussed the objectives of the Doping Awareness Seminar.
Member Medical Committee Olympic Council of Asia and Secretary Medical Commission of CGA Pakistan Dr Asad Abbas educated the athletes and coaches to avoid the use of performance-enhancing drugs which is unlawful and punishable under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) laws.
Dr Asad Abbas in his lecture threw light on Doping Test Procedure and its 25 steps approach. He also spoke about Origin of Doping, doping and WADA history, Methods of Doping, Doping Substances, Effects of Doping and Anabolic Steroid etc.
Member Executive Committee POA, Chairman and CEO Pakistan Swimming Federation Maj (retd) Majid Waseem delivered a lecture on Code of Good Conduct. He also praised Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz for taking keen interest in the seminar and promotion of clean sports policy.
The doping awareness seminar was aired through the Zoom system across the country. As many as 160 athletes, all district sports officers and other sports officials from across the country took part in this valuable activity through Zoom technology.