FIFA Fears
Monday, February 22, 2010
By Rob Harris
FIFA is concerned that players at the World Cup could use undetectable stimulants derived from traditional African medicines that aren't currently banned substances.
FIFA medical committee chairman Michel D'Hooghe told The Associated Press on Sunday that he wants the World Anti-Doping Agency to analyze some African plants that could give athletes an unfair advantage.
"I have a big concern - and I can confess that. We were learning a lot about the traditional African medicines and we are not sure what all of these products contain," D'Hooghe said. "I think some products are not detectable. This makes it difficult. They can deliver stimulation and diuretic activity."
D'Hooghe said he became aware of the extent of the issue at FIFA's medical conference this weekend in Sun City ahead of the World Cup in South Africa, which starts June 11.
"We received a lot of examples, going from things that we know but also going into absolutely unknown things for me. If I don't know the names, how can I know what they contain," D'Hooghe said of the plants. "This is certainly a challenge for WADA ... this could be a big challenge for football because we try to live in a football world without doping.
"If we don't have control over these specific traditional medicines, then we can't say we have control over all the medication in football."
In many African countries, plants provide the main source of medicine. Umhlabelo, made of dried leaves from the Nidorella plant, can help heal bones and muscles. The Hoodia plant is used as an appetite suppressant but also provides an energy boost.
"More and more governments are legalizing the use of traditional medicines, and that will compound the situation much further." warned Gurcharan Singh, a member of FIFA's medical committee.
South African team doctor Ntlopi Mogoru says some plants, usually found in tropical African countries like Ghana, can produce steroid byproducts that are not on WADA's list and aren't picked up in doping tests.
"There is no way of knowing. That's where the problem is," Mogoru said.
"In Africa, a lot of players use traditional medicines and, unfortunately because of WADA, there are no tests to detect those things and it becomes a bit of a problem for doping in the whole world. It's from the players' cultural backgrounds.
"Some cultures will believe if you take one of these traditional medicines it enhances your performances. Some of them might be taking this medication knowing that the side-effects enhance performances, but the primary intention was just to heal, for example, hemorrhoids. They can't be detected by the tests and they are not illegal."
Cameroon team doctor Prof. Guillaume Atchou advises his players not to take them but believes it is a challenge for all sports.
"The athletes think eating traditional medicines and taking traditional plants is a very good thing and we have no way to control these practices," Atchou said. "They shouldn't take them because I know these doping substances aren't right for them, but how do we find these substances in African plants. They are not detectable."
D'Hooghe thinks the US$30 million spent annually on 33,000 doping tests could be better spent on youth education since there are only about 10 positive results.
D'Hooghe said he believes there is "no doping culture" among the 260 million footballers worldwide.
Labels: Medicines, Stimulants, World Cup
posted @ 10:18 PM,
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