The Liberia National Olympic Committee (LNOC) has concluded a one-day anti-doping workshop, held at the Apostolic Foundation School in Sinkor, Airfield, around the Vamoma area. The workshop was concluded on Saturday, March 13, 2021.
The workshop was sponsored by the International Olympic Committee, with close to eighty (80) participants in attendance. It is said that the number of participants were limited due to the COVID-19 regulations. The workshop was divided into three sections of twenty-five (25) participants each, with each lecturer lecturing each of the sections simultaneously, thereby enabling each lecturer to lecture each of the sections.
During the workshop, Emmanuel Agu, Chairman of the Anti-Doping Commission of Liberia, spoke on the topic, “Regulations Approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Substances Prohibited by WADA Before, During and After Competitions”. Agu informed the participants of the effects of the banned substances on the athletes, and the short- and long-term effects.
Mulbah Zaza, President of the Liberia Athletics Federation, spoke on the topic, “Practical Experiences of Coaches and Captains in the Anti-Doping Exercise”. He lectured on the behavior pattern of players or athletes who dope themselves during competition, and how the coach should monitor the athlete before, during and after the competition.
Cllr. Sylvester D. Rennie, Vice President for Administration of the Liberia National Olympic Committee, spoke on the overview, objectives and history that led to the formation of WADA. He expanded on the core values of WADA.
Participants at the workshop who spoke to the Hot Pepper expressed gratitude for the lectures offered by the lecturers, and lauded the IOC for the opportunity through the Liberia National Olympic Committee (LNOC) for explaining anti-doping regulations and its effect on the athletes. They requested the LNOC to extent such programs to other counties, since sporting activities are also carried out in those counties.
Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee-sponsored COVID-19 Awareness Campaign continued on Thursday, March 11, 2021, with the Lombardia High School, TUSA Field, Gardnersville, and the SDA High School, JJY, Gardnersville, benefitting from donations of buckets, hand sanitizers, temperature meters and COVID-19 prevention materials. The awareness campaign also extended to the Bardnersville Sports Pitch, Kebbah Community and Dry Rice Market.
Also, on Monday, March 15, 2021, the COVID-19 awareness campaign was extended to the Sports Commission on Broad Street, during which time players of basketball teams and officials of the Liberia Basketball Association (LBA) as well as the spectators were part of the IOC-sponsored LNOC COVID-19 awareness campaign. Players and officials at the occasion were dressed in their COVID-19 printed T-shirts, with flyers. The spectators, too, were reminded of the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The anti-COVID message was extended to by-standers and petty traders who received flyers, stickers and COVID-19 manuals, all depicting protocols to be observed in eradicating the virus.
Several athletes from some federations, including athletics, swimming, table tennis, are carrying out training exercise amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and the awareness team has visited these athletes as a means of extending the anti-doping and COVID-19 awareness messages to them to ensure that they adhere to the anti-doping regulations and the protocols of the COVID-19 pandemic during their training exercises.
The awareness campaign, according to Vice President Rennine, will continue in several communities and sports facilities for the purpose of spreading the COVID-19 preventive measures and anti-doping regulations.