By Annalise Kempen
Image courtesy of Pexels
Parents want their children to excel and be the best versions of themselves – on the sports fields, academically and culturally. The question is, at what price? Are parents, coaches and/or the children themselves willing to risk blurring the legal lines to ensure that they reach the highest position in sport? Apparently, for some the answer is yes.
In 2022, the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) imposed the following sanctions on two schoolchildren, whose identities were protected because they were still minors (younger than 18 years) at the time:
- A rugby player received a three-year sanction from all sports following an anti-doping rule violation after he had tested positive for the presence of 19-norandrosterone (two steroid isomers that are marketed as dietary supplements and mainly used by body builders (Diel et al, 2008)). His period of suspension is valid until 19 September 2025.
- A swimmer received a reprimand, following an anti-doping rule violation, after testing positive for the presence of Prednisone and its metabolites. (Prednisone is a steroid medication used to treat conditions such as asthma, arthritis, allergic reactions, inflammatory bowel disease and adrenal, blood or bone marrow conditions (Cleveland Clinic, nd).) The period of ineligibility has been eliminated.
******************************
[This is only an extract of an article that is published in Servamus: June 2024. This article is available for purchase.]