WITH the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) compliance issue finally settled and cleared, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization (PHI-NADO) are moving forward and making sure that all bases are covered from hereon.
The WADA “signing off and declaring the case closed” last March 13 meant the Philippines can look forward to the Paris Olympics and hope to stay clear of any further complications by strengthening its anti-doping program.
To achieve that, the PSC wants PHI-NADO to become a fully independent body as practiced by other countries, and continue to educate all the stakeholders, including the various national sports associations (NSAs), and the thousands of athletes and coaches under its watch.
“Given the progression of the anti-doping world a lot of countries have independent anti-doping agencies. This is the proper time we have one in PHi-NADO,” said PSC executive director Paulo Tatad in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“We are making sure we do the necessary steps. Our friends in Malaysia, Indonesia Thailand gave a lot of insights. And given all of that, we are in the right direction,” said Tatad during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, PLDT/Smart, and ArenaPlus, the 24/7 sports app in the country.
Also gracing the forum were PSC chairman Richard Bachmann, PHI-NADO chief Dr. Alex Pineda and testing operations head Nathan Vasquez.
Bachmann cited Malacanang’s “total support” in the bid to create an independent PHI-NADO that can fully cater to the high demands of the national athletes and become fully compliant with the WADA code. Lending a hand with this cause are members of the Senate and Lower House.
“The threat that came with WADA non- compliance meant that starting last Feb. 22 we would not have been allowed to host international sporting events like FIBA qualifiers (among others) and that if a Filipino wins in international competitions, the Philippine flag cannot fly. Of course, (it affects) our national pride,” said Pineda.
The PHI-NADO chief said settling the non-compliance issue “is just the first step,” and that more actions need to be taken.
“We are being monitored by WADA not on testing alone but on anti-doping education as well, capacity building, management of results and data privacy,” he said.
“We need to work with PSC, the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee), and the NSAs. Kailangan ang collaboration,” Pineda added.
As part of the compliance, PHI-NADO must communicate daily with the NSAs and t he athletes and coaches, and keep reminding them of their responsibilities as far as anti-doping is concerned.
“The job is not yet done. It has a lot to do with testing, education and other aspects of doping,” said Vasquez.