The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s Athletics Olympic team has been cautioned against the use of banned substances ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics slated from July 26th to August 11th in Paris France.
Beatrice Ayikoru, the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) Secretary-General during an exclusive interview with Uganda Radio Network (URN), warned that any athlete who uses banned substances risks being suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), a world Athletics body that regulates the use of doping substance.
Ayikoru warned that the Paris Olympic Games would be the riskiest for anyone using illegal methods to enhance performance.
“As a member of the committee, I condemn any use of narcotics for it can significantly put athletes and Team Uganda in a state of quagmire” said Ayikoru.
She added, “Uganda is known for clean and fair competitions, especially during Olympic Games”.
Joshua Cheptegei, the team captain for the 2024 Paris Olympics implored the methods arranged by the Uganda Olympics Committee and Uganda Athletics Federation regarding keeping the team clean.
He asked his colleagues to embrace clean sports and not use any form of boosters. “As a captain, the worst scenario is to witness one of my teammates falling victim to doping,” he said.
The president of Uganda Athletics, Dominic Otuchet said he doesn’t expect any doping violations.
He said the Federation has been conducting frequent tests on the selected contingent.
“We have a medical team on the ground, they have also advised on the type of food the team should depend on, including the type of treatment the athlete should embrace on while at the training camp.”
URN has learned that, in the past year, two Ugandan female athletes were banned for four years by the Athletics Integrity Unit after testing positive for a prohibited substance 19-norandrosteron.
They are, the 1500-meter Kipkeino classic Gold Medalist Janat Chemusto and Prisca Chesang Chemweno, the 2023 World Cross Country Qualifier in Women’s Category.
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