Davao del Norte leads drugs-free sports campaign

DAVAO DEL NORTE, January 11, 2015 – The province of Davao del Norte has taken the lead in the campaign against the use of performance-enhancing drugs to ensure the integrity of sports.

With 81 days more to go before its crucial hosting of the Palarong Pambansa 2015, the province organized the Sub-National Anti-Doping Conference, in coordination with the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said the province is committed to uphold the integrity of sports, particularly the country’s largest sporting event, by impressing the values of fair play and promoting a drug-free culture among the young athletes.

He vowed the Palaro officials will never allow banned performance-enhancing substances to corrupt the ideals of the athletic competition, which he tagged as a powerful tool in promoting peace in the region.

“Never will we allow doping to directly challenge the fairness of the competition,” he stressed during the commitment campaign on anti-doping in sports at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan, Mankilam, Tagum City.  

Over 200 coaches, trainors, medical doctors and nurses from the Davao Region attended the event, which was the first of its kind in Mindanao.

Dr. Alejandro Pineda, Jr., Medical Director and Doping Control Head of the PSC, said the conference intended to provide fundamental information on anti-doping in sports and everyday living to sports stakeholders.

 It also sought to inculcate upon the athletes the values of true play and clean game, while creating a sporting environment conducive to healthy living.

                       

Pineda bared well-trained athletes can win even without prohibited drugs particularly if they have the right preparation and confidence for an event.

“Athletes do not need performance-boosting drugs provided that they were given proper endurance-building, as well as, physical training and conditioning,” he said.

He also asked the coaches and trainers to be wary of sports drinks and other substances that might have already been declared as banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

 Aside from the applicable policies and the health and legal consequences of using prohibited substances, experts from the PSC and the UNESCO also provided enlightening talks on sports medicine, sports science and sports nutrition, which contain the best “formula for winning”. (noel baguio/davnor pio )