Government forms illicit drug use committee, Bendera says

The government has said it has a special committee dealing with illicit drug use by sportsmen in the country but said it was yet to introduce anti doping test to players and athletes.

The Deputy Minister for Information, Cultural and Sports, Joel Bendera, told parliament yesterday when responding to a supplementary question by Salim Hemed Khamis (Chambani) who queried on reports that some Tanzanians who had gone to Beijing for the Olympic Games lost their medals after they failed the doping test.

Khamis had wanted to know on whether the government was aware of the problem and measures taken to curb it. Bendera said 12 Tanzanians competed in the Olympic Games, 10 in athletics and two in swimming.

The 205 countries competed in the games of which 88 among them won medals while the remaining 117, including Tanzania, returned empty handed.

Bendera was responding a question by Parmukh Hoogan (Kikwajuni) who wanted to know how many sportsmen took place in the games and the number of awards acquired.

Hoogan further asked the minister to say on whether the government had gained anything from the Beijing games.

In his response, Bendera said the country gained a lot of experience, saying most countries which won medals had contestants in more than two disciplines while Tanzania competed in only to events, athletics and swimming.

“We have learnt that we need to invest more to put a foundation in sports but above all, we need to invest in expertise and as such more funds, ought to be utilised“ said Bendera.

• SOURCE: Guardian