Doping tests at Rowing for the first time

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Category: Anti Doping

Published on Sunday, 18 September 2011 15:18

Written by Lishan Wickramanayake

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The 27th National Rowing Championships that concluded on Saturday at the Bolgoda Lake will not only be remembered for all the races rowed but for a historic first. Random doping tests were carried out for the time in a national/local rowing event.

As a result of a few Sri Lankan athletes testing positive for banned substances in various sports in the recent months and the increased lobbying carried out by many stakeholders; the ARASL (Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka) carried out doping tests at this year’s rowing nationals. They were supported by the Ministry of Sports Medical Unit with the ministry sponsoring the testing that will be carried out in the WADA approved facility in Malaysia.

Rowing in Sri Lanka has been a clean sport in terms of doping so far with no athletes been tested positive at international events (South Asian Games, Asian Games etc.). Even internationally, rowing is widely considered to be one of the ‘cleanest’ sports out there with no big scandals.

The four athletes were tested at random with the group comprising of an athlete from the armed forces, an athlete who had competed internationally, a schoolboy and a female competitor.

Speaking to ThePapare ,the National Coach, Lakmal Wickramage stated “Rowing in Sri Lanka is a clean sport so far and we are doing our best keep the sport that way by spreading awareness among our affiliated institutions. We have received letters that certain athletes are using N.O.Xplode and that action needs to be taken but, NO Xplode is not a banned substance as WADA believes it does not improve an athlete’s performance therefore, it’s not on the list of prohibited substances” Further he said “WADA is considering banning the product as they have linked it to kidney failure in athletes and would ban it considering the long term side effects of prolonged use.”

ThePapare is committed to spreading awareness about doping and keeping Sri Lankan sports ‘clean’ and welcomes this move by the Sports Ministry and the ARASL.

 

 

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