The usage of nutritional supplements or performance enhancing substances has become a trend in present day Sri Lanka especially in sports. At an era where Sri Lanka is making a massive effort to raise its head as a sporting nation, the side effects of anti doping are becoming alarmingly visible.
During the past six months or so seven sportsmen who represented the country were proven positive for using banned substances. Institute of Sports Medicine and Anti Doping Unit of Sri Lanka continuously have conducted awareness programmes to educate sportspersons on this issue during the past couple of years.
After seven of Sri Lanka’s top sportsmen were caught in the whirlwind of anti doping, the subject involuntarily diverts towards junior or the school level as it has been a great feeder of talents to the national stream in all disciplines.
Dr. Seevali Jayawickrema, whose name is familiar when an issue pertaining to anti doping arises, has been a vanguard figure in the Sri Lankan sports medical field. He has conducted a large count of anti doping tests in Sri Lanka whilst being an educator on this issue.
While senior sportsmen of the country suffer from the menace of anti doping Dr. Jayawickrema has conducted many workshops to educate young and budding sportsmen of the consequences of using banned substances by the World Anti Doping Agency or the WADA. “The National Institute of Sports Medicine (NISM) has done counts of awareness programmes to educate sportsmen of all ages on this issue. We have focused highly on rugby as it’s a contact sport and its players need a great amount of energy to complete a game. The NISM has made measures to update all schools about the list of banned substances by WADA through the Sports section of Ministry of Education. So far the feedback has been satisfactory,” Dr. Jayawickrema said.
Random doping tests
During the school league rugby season last year the NISM conducted random doping tests on first XV players. Eight players were subjected for tests but none of them were found positive. This year with the rise of national sportsmen who were found guilty the NISM failed to continue its tests on school rugby players.
But the medical officers tested 27 players who were pooled in the Under-20 national rugby team last week. Results showed that 26 players were negative on the issue expect for a player who was tested positive for using cannabis. The said player however is a youngster who failed his G. C. E. O/L exam and continued his rugby by joining a club according to sources.
Observations reveal that many leading schools has been and are suspected for depending much on synthetic talent boosters which are termed as ‘natural talent killers’ by experts of the game. However no specific evidence has come out so far to prove the doubt a truth. As a result this qualm on the usage of banned substances remains to be a public secret at school rugby.
“Usage of banned substances at school level has been in town for almost ten years now. There was a stage when this menace could have been nipped by the bud. I have been fighting throughout this period but unfortunately only a few were willing to support my cause. Majority of them opted to embrace the virus which has caused the declining natural rugby talent of the schoolboys. This has become a mafia at present. Serious punishments must be implemented by the Ministry of Education to move it out from schools,” a source who wished to remain anonymous revealed.
The world is familiar with substances that are rated as ‘banned’ but according to the source it has another category in the ranks of ‘dangerous’. Most players are being given these substances without the proper consent of a medical expert.
Process continues
“WADA sometimes takes even up to eight years to identify the components in a substance. If it is banned, the manufacturers release the same product under a different name. So the process continues,” the source added.
In many cases the players are unaware what supplements cause. They take anything that are given by trainers, coaches and at some instances parents who should be concerned of their children’s well being. According to rugby officials from a few leading schools, some players individually buy their own substances. Some even go to the extent of using more than a single product on a playing day.
“The players are unaware of what they use. These substances which are also known as supplements come in different forms; as drinks, milk, powders or solids. They just use them for the trend but are without the knowledge of how they react to their bodies”.
Brief energy providers
Nihal Mudannayake, a veteran master-in-charge of rugby with an experience of 28 years has seen school rugby develop to its modern level during his career. According to his knowledge supplements are just brief energy providers which do not help a player on the long run.
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Two drug testing vials; A in red and B in blue for samples. An anti
doping test costs US $ 225 according to officials. |
“Before supplements came to market in 2005, rugby players just had gram products, fruits, milk and soups. But unlike those days, players nowadays spend more time at training sessions and at a game. Supplements are not a must, it’s just a psychological obligation created by some individuals,” he said.
Sri Lanka’s best example in school rugby is undoubtly Hisham Abdeen. Abdeen represented Zahira and Isipathana Colleges and he also had the distinction of representing the Sri Lanka national rugby team while still a schoolboy.
The reputed flanker even played at domestic leagues in foreign countries during his illustrious career that spanned 22 years. According to the once most feared flanker in Sri Lanka his secret of success in rugby is none other than the customary rice and curry.
“If the authorities let doping raise its head at school level then they are responsible of killing the natural talent and by means the sport. I have coached 15 school and club teams and as the coach I made sure that supplements are kept away from my sight. The careers of former players lasted more than ten years but the present breed does not have that sustainability. They end their careers premature. I used water, gram and rice and curry as my energy booster in addition to dedication. With the blessing of God and parents we earned our status at rugby. But today things are heading the wrong way,” Abdeen said.
Since Abdeen has never depended on supplements as a player and coach he was unaware of the kind of ‘boost’ the players who use them experience.
The secretary of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union Lasitha Gunaratne shared his observations. “Some school teams perform well at certain sessions and even against certain opponents. Some teams are invincible during a season but they crash the very next year some times with almost the same set of players. It’s a miracle to see these kinds of performances from schoolboys. The best schoolboy rugby players are the most unfit at national level most of the times. So the doubt is very much clear though it’s strange. But the youngsters are not to be blamed here. The trainer and coach should be responsible and so must be the parents.”
Gamini Sarathchandra, the rugby master-in-charge of Isipathana College also acts as a match commissioner during the schools rugby league season. Sarathchandra has ample of experience seeing the changes that took place during the recent school seasons. “At Isipathana we usually consult a qualified doctor if we think of using supplements. But in the recent years we depended much on natural products. I have heard that some schools depend on supplements to win matches and competitions.
These supplements could contain banned materials. Winning or losing is part and parcel in sports. Elders should be more vigilant on their children for that matter,” Sarathchandra said.
But the sole responsibility of eradicating the usage of banned substances is in the courts of Ministry of Education and Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRA). Programmes have been taking place continuously during the recent two years to give this issue a stronger voice. But according to insiders rugby officials at certain schools turned a deaf ear until anti dope tests recommenced.
Artificial talent
“There were school teams that played better than clubs. After sports medical officers made an announcement that they will resume anti doping tests these same teams’ playing styles changed completely. This is clear evidence that schools use banned substances on their players. This menace has only brought up artificial talent,” a top grade referee assessed.
Rohana Karunatilleke, the Director Sports of Ministry of Education revealed to the Sunday Times that they have already granted NISM the authority to conduct anti doping tests on all school competitions if and when doubts arise.
“The anti doping unit of NISM does not need any approval to barge into a match or event to conduct doping tests. They (NISM) don’t necessarily need to inform the schools about their arrival,” Karunatilleke said.
The SLSRFA on the other hand is on the verge of introducing new laws to eliminate drug abuse charges from school level. According to Ranjith Chandrasekera, the President of SLSRFA who also is the Principal of Kingswood College serious punishments will be on the cards for offenders who are found guilty of using banned drugs. Among the possible verdicts are bans and interdictions. The Ministry of Education is attempting to hold the respective principals and coaches responsible if found guilty.
“If a player pleads guilty it will depend according to the charges but the maximum will be a ban of one year because as schoolboys they must be given a second chance. Principals will be inquired and then suspended for a period or maybe interdicted. But the coach will receive a lifetime ban at all levels. Other stakeholders will play their parts and I think this is the best that we can do from our side. But we wish to consult lawyers before creating the new circular,” Chandrasekera revealed. |
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