Dubai stages second phase of ‘Raise the Bar’ programme

World Para Powerlifting, in partnership with the Dubai Club for the Disabled, launched the second phase of its tailored anti-doping programme ‘Raise the Bar, say NO! to doping’ in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the World Para Powerlifting World Cup.

The event was supported by the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), through its 2016 Grant Support Programme (GSP).

Over two days before the start of the World Cup on 27 February, World Para Powerlifting successfully delivered 13 anti-doping workshops to 21 countries. A total of 108 athletes and 53 team officials were educated about the importance of clean sport.

The specific topic areas covered were: doping vs. anti-doping; the prohibited list; therapeutic use exemptions; medications and supplements; registered testing pool; rights and responsibilities of the athlete; role of athlete support personnel in anti-doping; roles and responsibilities of National Paralympic Committees (NPCs); and the doping control process.

“Thirteen productive anti-doping education sessions were conducted in Dubai prior to the Fazza 2017 Para Powerlifting World Cup with much interest from the participants, particularly the new lifters who had never attended a session before and had very limited anti-doping knowledge,” said IPC Anti-Doping Committee Member and lead educator Nicki Vance.

“While it is each athlete’s responsibility to be informed about the anti-doping issue, it is vital that the IPC as well as the National Paralympic Committees continue to provide support for anti-doping education, particularly for athletes from countries without an established National Anti-Doping Organisation.”

Jamil Adam, Malaysia’s Para Powerlifting Head Coach, added: “Raise the Bar is a great programme that helps to make sure powerlifting stays a clean and healthy sport, and avoids athletes cheating in our competitions.”

Secretary General of NPC Egypt Hayat Khattab, who accompanied the country’s team to the workshop, said: “I was very happy to see that all the members of my team were very interested in the session. All their questions were properly answered by the instructor and there was a very effective interaction between the participants and the tutors.

“The session was very fruitful and I hope to participate in some other sessions. I would like to thank the Organising Committee for their great effort to make the session a successful one.”

Raise the Bar, say NO! to Doping was launched in 2013 to educate athletes and teams on the importance of clean sport. Hundreds of people from all around the world have attended training sessions or taken part in activities at competitions and major Championships, saying NO! To Doping.

Further opportunities to take part will be available at the next World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Eger, Hungary, from 4-7 May and at the World Para Powerlifting Championships in Mexico City between 29 September – 6 October.