Anti-doping campaign gathers momentum

Doping tests have been carried out all over the world from many years back, but Botswana, like other Third World countries has been left behind due to lack of technology. Even though Botswana does not yet have a legislative framework to deal specifically with doping, athletes are still subjected to tests and may face penalties if they are found to have used performance-enhancing substances.

Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture Shaw Kgathi was in January this year appointed to be a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) board. The board met in Montreal, Canada, last week where Kgathi said that Botswana has seen the need for the establishment of National Anti-Doping Office (NADO) to take care of anti-doping initiatives within the country.  The Botswana Anti-Doping Agency (BONADO) is busy at work to raise awareness of its existence and intensify their doping tests campaigns. The agency performed its first tests in 2011.