Anti-doping- how aware are Bhutanese athletes?

Jan 31, 2012

As more and more Bhutanese athletes participate in the international sporting events, it has become necessary for them to know about anti-doping test procedures. For that, the Bhutan Olympic Committee plans to sensitise the sports fraternity on the procedures.

The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term “doping”. The use of these drugs is mainly used for improving an athlete’s performance.

Bhutanese athletes especially those who have participated in international sporting events are aware of anti-doping in sports. However, not many know about the testing procedures.

The BOC plans to train and educate athletes and coaches first, and then the trainers are expected to travel around the country, as well as visit schools to create awareness.

A focal person for Anti–Doping matters, Tshering Lhamo, said that some of the athletes who participated in the international competitions know about anti-doping but they do not know on the procedure, how it is being done. “So it is very important for us to give awareness to them so that they will be more careful about which substances to take and which are not.”

Bhutan became signatory to the International Convention against Doping in Sports only this year.