UAF urges athletes to "stay clean"

With doping becoming a big threat to the progress of global sport, various local federations are educating players of what exactly doping is.

Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) has led the way for its team that will contest at the world championships later this month.

During the one-day seminar in Kapchorwa organized in collaboration with the National Anti-doping Organization (NADO) and the Uganda Olympic Committee medical commission, the athletes were taken through various subjects.

“UAF is a model example because it cares about the clean athlete campaign we run from time to time,” said Chris Mbowa a NADO official.

"Uganda has become a centre of focus because of it’s great performances in sport, now World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) is eyeing them more, our role is to sensitise athletes about doping and how to conduct themselves when called upon for the doping control process."

Uganda’s prize athlete Joshua Cheptegei has been subjected to several tests before and played a key role during the exercise offering his opinion about doping.

“It’s like if you are told to start a race when your competitor started some minutes ago, that means you are not going to get to him which is very frustrating,” added Cheptegei.

“Cheats should not be given a chance to compete in sports,” he echoed.

They were advised to seek medical guidance and benefit from therapeutic use exemption.

Uganda’s World Athletics Championship bound team of 22 players will contest in the 400m,800m,1500m,3000m,5000m,10000m and the marathon.