BASSETERRE, ST. Kitts – IN an effort to sensitise young athletes about the dangers of performance enhancement drugs, the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association has declared the month of November “Anti-Doping Month”.
The focus of the month will be to increase the awareness among young athletes, coaches and parents about the adverse effects of alcohol and encourage young athletes to adopt a positive healthy attitude towards sports and their day to day activities.
According to SKNFA official Don Grant, a full programme is in place to inform young athletes about the ethics of sports and the consequences of doping, so that they could make informed decision and to promote and encourage the implementation of drug prevention.
He said that recognition of the Anti-Doping Month should have commenced last weekend, but it was postponed because of matters beyond their control.
Grant however declared that the Association would be launching it this weekend at the St. Kitts Marriot Resort, starting at 9:00 a.m., and the participants would be include the under 14 teams that are currently engaged in a competition and also the female footballers.
He stated that they would be schooled in the ills of doping in sports.
Grant added that they wanted to push November as the month of awareness because they are cognisant of what is happening in society in relation to smoking and alcohol consumption, which is something they feel they have to fix before it gets worse.
He also stated that a seminar is planned for coaches and a church service as well as a rally against doping.
