Call for more dope testing on regional footballers

A call has been made for more dope testing in Caribbean football. This was made as doctors from  throughout CONCACAF assembled at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya for  the first ever Doping Control Seminar.

The seminar is a collaborative effort between FIFA and CONCACAF and was originally planned to be conducted by Dr Rudy Gittens, who is a member of the FIFA Sports Medical Committee and Chairman of the CONCACAF Sports Medical Committee. But Trinidad and Tobago’s Dr Terence Babwah, also a member of the FIFA Sports Medical Committee, was made  to shoulder the leading responsibilities due to the absence of Gittens who was forced to remain in Barbados after suffering a heart attack while in transit and is now resting comfortably in Barbados.

The two-day event focused  on advanced methods of doping control and the latest research on substance abuse. Babwah explained the reason for staging such a seminar. “The purpose of this course is really to give an update which is done every two years on the  procedures involved in dope testing. FIFA have a network around the world where they have doctors trained worldwide in the practical aspects of doping control so that in the event of a competition being played anywhere, there can always be a doctor available to carry out the process,” Babwah said.

“The seminar has had a good impact so far because we are realising now that more and more countries in the Commonwealth are starting their own doping control programmes. Babwah added that Central American countries tend to experience the most problems with abuse of illegal substances including cocaine and marijuana so he is now hoping for an increase in dope testing both in Central American and the Caribbean.