Unethical behaviour in sports worldwide concern

Malawi: Amid growing global concern about the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) in sports, the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday with the African Zone VI Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) to prevent doping among athletes in the region, writes Judgement Katika.

Doping and other unethical behaviour in sports have become a global concern, according to chairperson Isaac Katopola, necessitating smart partnerships between sports governing bodies.

He stated that any player who is diagnosed with drug or substance abuse will be disqualified.

He stated that the MOU aims to harness the power of sport to combat the vices that plague this industry, one of which is the fight against doping sport.

In a similar vein, RADO President Nicholas Munyonga stated that the MOU is the result of extensive consultation and deliberation between the two organisations, with the realisation that by working together.

According to Munyonga, RADO will lead and coordinate the implementation of anti-doping programmes in member countries, but this is a multifaceted task that will require partnership and collaboration with various stakeholders.

According to him, RADO also signed a similar memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) zone 6, and the promotion of clean sports is now becoming an integral part of sport development.

Munyonga went on to say that the RADO represents the public declaration and pledge to serve the region, and that member countries represent various Regional, Continental, and World competitions.

In July, government ministers gathered in Kazan, Russia, for a World Conference on Making Sport Relevant to Society.

The conference produced five actions in the hope and trust that the MOU will serve as an enabler rather than a barrier to the progressive implementation of programmes and services.