Doping under the microscope

By Ulimasao Fata 18 March 2018, 12:00AM

Local officials will be a lot better prepared to deal with doping cases when the Pacific Games come around next year.

That’s after local Doping Control Officers (D.C.O.) complete a three-day training workshop at the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (S.A.S.N.O.C.) headquarters.

This is in preparation for the 2019 Pacific Games.

The training is being facilitated by the Executive Officer of the Oceania Regional Anti-Doping Organisation, Natanya Potoi-Ulia. 

The workshop is in partnership with the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee Medical and Anti-Doping Organisation chaired by Kerrie Punivalu.

It aims to ensure that Samoa local Doping Control Officers possesses the current understanding of carrying out drug testing according to the International Standards for Testing and Investigation (I.S.T.I.).

According to the training and workshop facilitator, Ms. Potoi-Ulia, doping control is critical because Samoa is preparing for upcoming games.

While Friday’s session was just an overview of the training and workshop, yesterday focused on the technical knowledge of the doping control officers’ roles and responsibilities.

Sunday will be the final assessment of the participants’ knowledge and skills.

Participants are mostly individuals who carry out the drug testing in Samoa. 

There will be another separate session for sports officials and athletes.

“The individuals participating, one of them is a teacher, another one is a secretary, so a lot of these individuals are from laboratory and outside of sports.

“For these individuals, they will be responsible to actually collect the urine and blood samples from athletes and athletes for drug testing.”

By Ulimasao Fata 18 March 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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