President of International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, on Thursday said that extra effort must be taken to improve anti-doping programmes ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Bach said this while addressing delegates at the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) General Assembly in Port Louis, Mauritius.
He also spoke to representatives from all 54 African NOCs at the beginning of the meeting chaired by Lassana Palenfo, the President of Ivory Coast’s ANOCA.
“NOCs must strive harder to catch cheats or all teams risk being tainted and associated with cheating.
“I would really encourage you all to make an extra effort into your anti-doping programme before the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“You can win all the medals you were dreaming, but if one of these victories is tinged with scandal for doping, then all your medals and all your athletes are tainted, and the honest athletes do not deserve this.
“You must protect the integrity of your athletes and Olympic delegation in making the fight against doping a priority.
“You must try to catch cheats before the Olympic Games in Rio, so they are punished, so that they are exposed to show that you hunt down cheats to protect athletes who play by the rules,’’ insidethegames.biz quoted him as saying.
“Suspicions over widespread doping have increased in recent weeks.
“Following publication of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Independent Commission’s report, this confirmed allegations of systemic doping within Russian athletics.
“Greater light has been shone on problems in other countries, including in Kenya, where 38 athletes have tested positive for banned substances in recent months”.
It noted that WADA had threatened the nation with expulsion from the Games if “unsatisfactory” answers are given in response to questioning over problems.
“No African nations have yet been sanctioned by WADA, but athletes from multiple other countries in the continent have tested positive in recent years.
“Recent scandals have also shown a light onto administrative corruption within the Olympic Movement.’’
