H.E. Muhammad B. S. Jallow gave this assurance during the opening ceremony of the Inter-regional Ministerial meeting on Doping in Sports.
He pointed out that hosting the meeting is evidence of the country’s stance on this matter.
"We subscribe to the values and ethics that underlie all sporting disciplines. As a result, we will continue to endeavour promoting and holding competitions that are free from illicit drugs or performance-enhancing substances that give athletes an unfair edge over their fellow competitors." he stated.
VP Jallow noted that through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, they launched a National Anti-Doping Platform in May 2022, which brought together various stakeholders to raise awareness on and promote compliance with the Anti-Doping Convention, WADA regulations, and testing procedures.
"Today, The Gambia is one of the African countries that remain compliant with the WADA codes." he added.
He informed the gathering that the government has a National Sport Bill that contains a section on Doping; among other issues, it provides for legislation to dually give our national platform legitimacy and power to function effectively.
Thus, he said once enacted, the legal framework will reinforce the 2023-2033 African Union Policy Framework for Sustainable Development in Sport in Africa, which enjoins African countries to promote and prioritise clean sports.
The vice president also told the delegates to share ideas, explore cooperation opportunities and devise strategies and plans to minimise the incidence of doping and cheating in sports, among both amateur and professional athletes.
"I entreat you to remember that young people need sufficient knowledge and resilient skills to avoid banned substances."
According to him, such knowledge and skills can be acquired only if decision makers, practitioners, and enforcement agents skillfully focus on raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and adhering strictly to the rules that govern healthy competition.
He said their goal is preferably to have a continent where performance in sports is outstanding, excellence is earned fairly, and the integrity of athletes and officials is safely protected.
