Malawi Anti-Doping Organisation (Mado) has selected 12 athletes to undergo anti-doping training to raise awareness for doping issues in the sports fraternity.
The training has targeted athletes drawn from football, netball, boxing, athletics and lawn tennis.
The participants, who are ambassadors for Mado, include retired FCB Nyasa Big Bullets defender Yamikani Fodya, Silver Strikers captain Chikondi Kamanga and retired Malawi National Netball Team player Takondwa Lwazi, who also plays for Blue Eagles Sisters.
Malawi Olympic Committee (Moc) Vice President Flora Mwandira, speaking during the opening ceremony for a three-day anti-doping training, called on the ambassadors to preach anti-doping messages to their fellow athletes as the use of drugs in sports is against the Olympics laws in the World.
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“I want to thank Malawi Anti-Doping Organisation for organising this symposium which will help our athletes learn more on anti-doping.
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“As Moc, we cannot afford to go around the country and teach athletes about anti-doping. These messages are better understood when fellow athletes engage one another,” Mwandira made the remarks at Mpira Village in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre on Friday.
Meanwhile, Mado Education Chairperson Oscar Kanjala has challenged the ambassadors to take the anti-doping messages seriously as they have a potential to dent and destroy one’s career.
“We wanted our athletes to believe that it is possible to be a successful athlete without using drugs to enhance performance.
“We are not stopping here as we will also train sports administrators, technical and members of the media as we strive to have successful careers for athletes with no drug enhancement record in the country,” Kanjala said.
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Taking her turn, Lwazi, who was the only player to have been selected for doping tests from Malawi at the 2023 Netball World Cup finals in South Africa, hailed Mado for the symposium.
“I want to assure my fellow athletes that it is possible for an athlete to have a successful career and be one of the best performers without using any drugs for enhanced performance.
“I am a living example and in South Africa I was voted player of the match during some World Cup games last year but I never used drugs to enhance my performance,” Lwazi said.
This is not the first time Mado has organised such a training.
