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What have we descended to?

Jan 15, 2014 Sports

 

By Claude David
Kaieteur News of January 1, 2014 carried the story headlined, “Gumendra Shewdas banned by IPF for anti-doping rule violation suspended for two years; GAPF fined 2000 Euros”, several of our Sports Journalists have weighed in on the issue making pertinent comments, suggestions and asking questions.
Two of those Journalists, Rawle Welch and Edison Jefford, have gone in-depth on the issue of the positive drugs test by Mr. Shewdas for the banned performance enhancing substance Methylhexaneamine and Oxilofrine.
Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell is involved currently in a hearing process to determine his use of the very stimulant Oxilofrine in Jamaica.
Now I will not rehash what my two colleagues would have written and bore readers with the details they already know, but rather I want some questions answered.
President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) Peter Green, in that January 1 article made a profound statement that simply boggles the mind.  The article states; “In an invited comment, GAPF President Peter Green said he was very disappointed in the entire episode which will certainly jerk the development of the sport that has taken off in the past five years or so.
Green posited that the GAPF will have to launch its own investigation. Green further noted that no local athlete will be able to compete overseas for 2014 which will see the federation going on an all out campaign to educate and enlighten its athletes on the dangers of performance enhancing drugs.”
Now my question:  Why should all the other athletes who have been representing Guyana with distinction over the years suffer because of Mr. Shewdas’ infraction?  Based on my knowledge of international sport and the current fight against the scourge of drugs in sport, athletes in top flight competition are tested, some randomly, and predominantly winners of  events to ensure they are above board and have won fairly.
‘Big’ John Edwards, Randolph Morgan and Winston Stoby will certainly have stories of that nature.
Is there something being hidden from the public domain, is there a question of wide spread doping going on here that the GAPF is afraid that more people will be caught and Guyana are in danger of more serious sanctions.  I may be dead wrong in my line of questioning, but the lack for forthrightness and based on the current world scenario leaves one to wonder.
Why should one athlete’s indiscretion force so many who have and can continue to bring Guyana glory, suffer. This is a travesty and great injustice, especially to those that have blazed the trail bringing medal after medal back home to Guyana.  What are we descending to?
Mr. Green I have to put you in the uncomfortable place of requesting that you explain this injustice. The federation should not be made to pay for Shewdas’ major blunder and neither the athletes, he should foot the Euro$2000 fine, and the federation along with what corporate sponsorship acquired, fund athletes sojourns abroad for top flight competition which we know they can and will do well.
I will not go on to ask other pertinent questions relating to Mr. Shewdas’ excuses on how he came into contact with these banned stimulants…they simply don’t add up.  These are hi-tech drugs designed to mask the use of other things and they don’t come cheap, do the math, Guyanese are not stupid.
Mr. Green needs to reverse that decision and let those others that are able to attend overseas competition do so. The defaulter should be made to pay the fine. We indeed need to get to the bottom of this whole issue; that will be another story.
Mr. Green said in the January 1 article, “This is certainly a setback for us but it is not the end, it’s an awakening call for us. It is my intention to lobby for a national Anti-Doping Committee to combat the use of drugs. The simple message now is that no athlete should take any supplements which include the many energy drinks on the market.”
Indeed athletes should be made aware of possible pitfalls in relation to doping and an aggressive effort is necessary to ensure none other falls by the wayside. Testing is becoming more stringent and cheats will be caught, therefore let’s set Guyana apart, we have naturally talented athletes and foods that can give us the edge, just proper research is needed. The time for new strategies is now.

 

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