In a move to promote clean sports and fair play across the African continent, the African Union (AU) held a high-level forum on anti-doping on the side lines of the 13th edition of the African Games in Accra, Ghana.

Conducted under the theme "African Games and Clean Sport towards Building the Africa We Want", the forum was a collaborative initiative between the African Union, the Republic of Ghana, and the Africa Office of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The primary goal of the forum was to foster an open and constructive dialogue among African sports ministers and key stakeholders, with the aim to formulate a comprehensive continental strategy against doping in African sports.

Hon. Evans Opoku Bobie, the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports for Ghana, emphasised the significance of the forum, highlighting its role in providing a platform for high-profile individuals such as sports ministers, sports directors, and sports adjudicators of Africa to delve into the complexities of anti-doping issues noting that it would give the stakeholders an appreciation about measures on anti-doping.

The Deputy Minister noted that the discussions brought to the fore issues such as, clean sport and fair play as well as the need to make funding available to implement anti-doping measures. He stated further that, the continent needed to conform with international standards and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code of conduct."

The deputy minister underscored the far-reaching impact of doping on the success of sports on the African continent as it impacted on the well-being of the athletes and undercut the concept of fair play, where there is no cheating in sports.

Hon. Bobie urged AU member states that have not localised anti-doping laws to comply with international standards and called on them to allocate resources and legislation for anti-doping measures, including the establishment of testing laboratories as a critical step. He however acknowledged that one of the critical challenges that countries face in trying to effect laws to deal with anti-doping is the lack of funding which is expensive with member states struggling to find money and allocate resources to cater for anti-doping measures.

The call for action on anti-doping comes at a time when doping scandals continue to cast a shadow over the integrity of sports globally. African nations are grappling with the dual challenges of adhering to international standards and finding financial resources to combat doping effectively.

With the holding of the African Games, the spotlight on clean sport will be a focal point for both athletes and organisers.

About the African Games

The African Games is exclusively owned by the African Union and organised on behalf of its member states every 4 years and one year before the Olympics.

The African Games is a multi-disciplinary sporting event with over 20 sporting and brings together sports persons from across the continent who compete in various competitions including Olympic qualifiers.

This prestigious event showcases athletic talent, celebrates African cultural values and heritage, promotes solidarity, social cohesion and integration and promotes the values of Pan-Africanism. In addition, the African Games spotlight the importance of investment in sports as a driver of the economic development that will ensure Africa’s achieves the goals of Agenda 2063.

The African Union Sports Council (AUSC)is responsible for coordinating the organisation of the African Games on behalf of the African Union and partners with continental bodies including the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the Association of Africa Sports in organising the Games.

Learn more about the mandates and statutes of the African Union Sports Council on https://au.int/en/treaties/statute-africa-sports-council

Article by Betha Madhomu, Habari Media (https://habarimedia.com) for the Information and Communication Directorate

For more information contact:

Janet Faith Adhiambo Ochieng | Communication Officer- Agenda 2063 | Information and Communication

Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: Ochiengj@Africa-union.org I Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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