College of Rehabilitation Sciences Internship Supervisor for Sports and Science and Sports Nutritionist Ms. Karen Leslie Pineda, MPH and faculty members Asst. Prof. Christian Rey Rimando, MSPT, and Ms. Stephanie Pagarigan, MSHMS, were selected as doping consultants of the SEARADO and Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization (PHINADO) together with International Doping Control Officers Dr. Pilar Villanueva, Dr. Charles Corpus, Dominique Marielle De Castro and Justin de la Cruz.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), PHI-NADO, in partnership with the
Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) hosted back-to-back anti-doping events from July 18 to 20, 2018 held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City with the theme “Play Clean. Play True. Play Fair. Nope to Dope.” The 2018 National Summit on Anti-Doping in Sports was held on the first day attended by sports administrators, officials and media staff. It was followed by a two-day 2018 National Coaches Seminar on Anti-Doping in Philippine Sports with nearly 100 participants consisting of government officials, sports administrators, coaches and players from different national
sport associations, local government, government units and sport organizations.
The anti-doping consultants discussed the new international standards for code compliance by signatories, accountability of all stakeholders, anti-doping education tool kits, responsibilities and values-based integration, revisions and reinforcement of the World Anti-Doping Code of 2015 which included investigation, results management and appeals, athlete whereabouts and online tools and assistance, doping control
procedures, processes and updates, medical disclosures and therapeutic
use exemptions (TUE), ergogenic aids and nutritional supplements.
The summit impressed upon the participants the values of true play and
clean game in sports to promote a drug-free culture amongst the athletes and the young population.
Stakeholders were remindedof their contribution to the creation of a
sporting environment conducive to healthy living where play is fair and true by way of complimentary actions. Coaches and other participants were also given the chance to share their insights regarding anti-doping.
Suggestions for future implementation of anti-doping activities such as education included integration to the new K to 12 school system in the Philippines for early behavioral development against doping from childhood, to integration in collegiate and national teams such as the UAAP, NCAA and Palarong Pambansa were also discussed.
According to SEARADO Director General Gobinathan Nair, “WADA is not here to sanction people. The idea is to help you come to the standard of playing clean and true. Our integrity matters.” He emphasized the reinforcement of roles and responsibilities of national federations, re-introducing the role of PHI-NADO in its fight towards clean sport and the call for collaboration and partnership among stakeholders for future anti-doping practices in sport.
The summit highlighted the need for caution and accountability in what we take into our body, emphasizing that education is the key to prevent any unwanted things from happening. The future is bright for Philippine anti-doping as members and leaders of the Philippine sporting community
expressed their full support for the program and future activities of the organization.
