Banned substances, players being tested positive for anti-doping and violence in the field are few of the hot topics that are being circulated around on rugby these days. Unlike in recent years, more focus shifted towards usage of banned substances due to the reason that seven of Sri Lanka’s prominent athletes being tested positive. The subject was somewhat hovering around the school circuit, especially in the rugby arena and this season above results many were concerned on the differences of playing styles of certain school teams.
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| School game in progress,
(Pic by Sanka Vidanagama) |
Rapid anti-doping tests have been conducted but these suspicions raised by individuals still remains the way they were for the mere reason that none of the 26 school players were tested positive during the Youth Asiad practices in Colombo. The 27th player of the pool was tested positive but interestingly he is no more attached to an institute but was a student who failed his exams in the first sitting. Moreover this particular player was tested positive for using a natural substance which is legally banned in many countries of the world including Sri Lanka.
However the situation has improved to an extent that certain groups or supporters of particular teams had made use of the opportunity to discriminate their opponents. Is using banned substances as many call them a sin? The Sunday Times met veteran school rugby coach Sanath Martis for his views on this subject which is in one way a sensitive subject to talk of.
But many leading schools according to their budgets make use of supplements which are approved by World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) as well as the Medical Unit of Ministry of Sports in Sri Lanka (MU). Martis firstly pointed out the importance of identifying the difference between banned substances which are performance enhancers and supplements which are nutrition.
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| Sanath Martis |
“Banned substances may come in different forms but not approved supplements or medications. Over the years research has proved that reactions do occur within the body with both medication and some other drinks which may come in form of energy drinks. But I’m a rugby coach, not a medical expert and I’m only an expert in finding the technical faults of the players,” Martis said.
It is however approved by WADA and the MU to make use of supplements which are approved and can be found in the market. Many schools playing in the top league make use of these supplements and according to Martis, he seeks the expertise of the doctors of the MU before using them.
“Researches and empirical evidence indicate that approved supplements are helpful for sports. If you do a research on the North American Conference for Athletics Association, it is legal and the clear guidelines given on how to make correct use of supplements. But as a precaution it’s always better to get these supplements checked by an expert who is attached to the MU. They don’t charge anything and the MU will give the correct supplement which suits the individual after consultation. Countries make use of approved supplements so what’s wrong with it,” asked Marits.
However Martis who is dead against the use of performance enhancers or banned substances further pointed out the gravity of pointing out the same allegations to another school or an individual.
“It’s not fair by me or for anyone to make comments, suspect or criticize a player, school or institution without valid proof. It’s clear than ten out of the 12 teams in the Division I ‘A’ are using supplements because they can afford them and at the same time there are about two or three teams that does not use them due to their own policies or maybe because of financial shortages. But if you take the recent decade into account only four school teams have won the league during that period. The ones who point the finger at others are those who failed to win the league or other titles due to poor performances. We cannot and should not speculate here but the tests only reveal the innocent and the guilty.”
Over the recent decade or two, rugby at school level has developed to a different platform. Certain changes caused different inputs and results at certain eras. The duration of the game at school level was expanded to 90 minutes from 60 to suite the international standards. Most schools are at present equipped with gyms and swimming pools and hardcore training has made a huge different in the level of fitness of the players. Schools engage in pre-seasonal training in order to prepare their teams in a professional way that many elements are being addressed during a season. Strength, weight, nutrition, speed and agility, mental toughness, motivation are some of them. The game has developed to such an extent. Martis thinks that there is vast improvement in some areas but more work needs to be done.
Moreover some officials of the main governing body of rugby which is the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) came up with comments recently saying that despite all these hard work by schools, many players who perform well at schools are unfit when they reach the national level.
“I don’t think the SLRFU officials would fall into that cheap grade in making unfitting comments. But at the same time if anyone makes such comments it would not be fair to justify the SLRFU by his statement which maybe a petty excuse for his negligence of his duties. The SLRFU and its people should be more professional and come out with solutions, not questions or problems,” slammed Martis. In addition, the MU made it clear to the media in the recent weeks that they have been conducting awareness programmes to all club and school rugby players to educate them about the products and the anti doping process. A doctor attached to the MU said that all schools and clubs have been issued with a list of banned substances from the WADA but Martis made an amusing eye-opener.
“They come in scientific names which are ‘Spanish’ for many of us. How can a coach or even at times a trainer or the players keep those long names in mind? Shouldn’t we be doing our coaching job then? At times the ingredients are given but still there is a risk. So the best solution for the time is to give the supplement to be checked at the MU and let them approve it for use. If they can make the rules why can’t they help schools to keep the sport clean?” he asked.
The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) which governs schools rugby and the Ministry of Education are on the verge of coming out with serious punishments on school authorities, trainers and coaches if a player tests positive for using banned substance. According to Ranjith Chandrasekera, the president of SLSRFA, a principal may face a transfer, suspension or interdiction depending on the magnitude of the offence. And the rugby coach according to Chandrasekera will even risk their careers as they might face a lifetime ban from coaching. Martis thinks that school authorities, the coaches, the trainers and the rugby committees should ensure the proposed process in anti doping is watertight while claiming that the coach too has a joint responsibility. But he opposed the lifetime ban.
“In the recent times lots of international athletes were tested positive. Sri Lanka had seven such players who failed the test. Authorities cannot blame the coach at those cases because at national and international level it is said the player is responsible for what he takes. But at school level top authorities such as the SLSRFA and the Ministry of Education must come up with prompt regulations on this.”
“Punishing a principal or a poor coach is not the suitable remedy. For an instance, anyone above the age of 18 is legally permitted to make matrimonial bonds. If a player comes out with a girl saying ‘meet my wife’ is the coach still responsible? Players only spend three to four hours with the coaches and what is happening during the remaining hours of the day is up to the players and their parents. What if a player from a wealthy family decides to take a banned substance without the coach’s knowledge? Authorities should come out with proper solutions. Of course we need to keep the sport clean and I’m a proponent of this programme,” Martis elaborated. |
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