Special report: 2008 Olympic
Games
JOHANNESBURG, July 1 (Xinhua) -- South African athletes to compete in the
Beijing Olympics, will all have to undergo a series of tests before their
departure.
The decision was announced Tuesday by the South African Institute for
Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) who unveiled details of the anti-doping programme for
the Olympic and Paralympic teams heading to the Games in Beijing.
"It is the Institute's responsibility to ensure that our athletes'
performances are the result of athletic prowess, dedication, determination, and
not through cheating.
"When South African athletes stand on the winning podium, we want the
public to celebrate their achievements with the confidence that our athletes are
true performers and not cheaters," said the institute's CEO, Khalid Galant.
In order to ensure South Africa sends a clean team, the institute is
refining its drug testing program in the lead up to the Games. Athletes can
expect to be visited by doping control officers for a few no-notice,
out-of-competition tests before their departure, either at training sessions or
at their places of residence.
The institute has a national network of doping control officers around the
country who will be authorized to conduct these tests at any place or time.
Athletes residing or training overseas can also expect visits from doping
control officers from other national anti-doping agencies. The overseas doping
control officers are authorized by the institute to perform tests on South
African athletes in the respective countries.
"We are also stepping up our education program for Olympic athletes so that
they are fully aware of their rights and responsibilities as athletes pertaining
to drug testing during the Games.
"The Institute is striving to have face-to-face contact with all our
Olympic athletes to brief them on the doping control procedures that they can
expect in Beijing and to address any concerns the athletes, coaches or managers
may have as far as the drug testing processes are concerned."
