Tanzania ratifies anti-doping convention

Days are numbered for local and international players who have been using performance enhancement drugs (doping) after the Tanzania's National Assembly on Monday ratified an International Convention against Doping in Sport.

The practice that has been rampant in the world has forced the government through the National Assembly to come to terms with World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) in its efforts to fight against the practice among sports men and women.

The International Association of Athletes Federation ( IAAF) started throwing its weight into fighting the menace in 1928 after it became suspicious with some athletes who participated in games it organized.

Presenting the document in the august House on Sunday, Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Nape Nnauye said the impetus to come with a special arrangement for each nation to fight doping gained momentum in 2005 when the United Nations through UNESCO prepared the document with the major objective to bring fairness in competitions.

He said by ratifying the Convention Tanzania would safeguard the interest of sports women and men, including improving their health conditions, availing opportunities for them to vie for posts in international sports bodies.

He said after ratifying the Convention the country would create a credible image in the international community, be able to create a level playing for local players to compete fairly with others in and outside the country

The Convention contains nine articles that among other things want all member countries to ensure all their sports bodies and associations take stringent measures to ban performance enhancement drugs, including instituting punitive measures against sports men and women involving themselves in doping. Endit