LNOC Complete
2005 Anti-Doping Campaign
By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
The Liberia National Olympic Committee (LNOC) completed the 2005
Anti-Doping Campaign last Friday, July 8, 2005 in Monrovia.
According to the LNOC, the 2005 Anti-Doping Campaign was an effort to
enlighten the public on the use of banned substances before, during
and after competitions.
In observance of the campaign, a parade was held from the BW Harris
Episcopal High School on Broad Street unto to the principal streets of
Monrovia before ending at the Sports Commission, where an indoor
program took place.
Among schools that participated in the campaign were the Edward Wilmot
Blyden, Wells-Hairston on Mechlin Street, Elizabeth Crawford, JJ Ross,
AME Zion Academy, Pioneer Baptist, Slipway Community, Seventh Day
Adventist, GW Gibson, Bassa Community, Gray D. Allison and Monrovia
College.
Mr. Anthony B. Mulbah, who proxied for the guest speaker Jefferson
Zoegbeh, opined that doping is capable of destroying civilization
severely and faster than any weapon ever fashioned by man.
“Doping or drug-abuse can make daddy not to pay your school fees.
It can make mammie kill daddy. It can make you smoke your school fees
and drop out of school. It can separate daddy and mammie.”
The guest speaker suggested that competitors in every major
competition must be subjected to random testing in order to enjoy the
approval and recognition of said competition.
Speaking thereafter, LNOC President Philibert S. Browne urged the
youths to be a perfect example of a drug-free person by ensuring that
they abstain from drug activity.
He admonished them to abstain from the taking of drugs in all of their
activities if they are to assume national leadership tomorrow.
Mr. Browne said as they will be facing off in the future, the youths
need to be a well-disciplined and prepared young people who are
supposed to take over the mantle from the elderly ones. But in doing
so, he said the youths will have to firstly prepare themselves and one
of such preparations is to abstain from drugs which hamper the entire
human body as well as its growth.
The LNOC president further informed them that series of workshops
would be held at the various schools by the LNOC so as to explain the
aims, objectives and principles of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC).
For his part, the Vice President for Administration of the LNOC,
Attorney Sylvester D. Rennie thanked the participating schools,
general public and organizing committee for making the program a
success.
The Anti-Doping Campaign is sponsored by the Olympic Solidarity, the
IOC and is held every year by the LNOC as a form of awareness for the
youths and public.
|
|
