Team Fiji is being thoroughly prepared to ensure a clean and fair competition at the Paris Olympics.
During a comprehensive four-day workshop organised for Team Fiji’s entourage, which includes managers, coaches, and the Chef de Mission for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Pauline Stephens from the Oceania Regional Anti-Doping Agency (ORADO) emphasised that ignorance is no longer an excuse for violating anti-doping rules.
The workshop aimed to clarify the anti-doping responsibilities of athletes and officials both before and during the Games.
Stephens pointed out that with resources such as the Global Drug Reference Online (Global DRO) and the WADA app available for free on digital platforms, information about prohibited medications is readily accessible.
These tools help athletes and their support personnel verify the status of medications against the current World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List, which is updated annually.
She stressed the principle of strict liability, where each athlete is responsible for any substance found in their body, regardless of intention or negligence.
Stephens reiterated the importance of familiarity with the rules and regulations covering drug testing and anti-doping, which must be adhered to at all times, to avoid sanctions that can range from a one-year suspension to a lifetime ban.
