ESWATINI DOCTORS IN CAF DOPING FIGHT

MBABANE – CAF took a significant step towards promoting clean sports in Africa by hosting the first regional anti-doping workshop of the year in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The workshop, which concluded on Wednesday, highlighted the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) unwavering commitment to ensuring fair play and ethical competition across the continent. CAF’s dedication to eradicating doping in African football was reaffirmed during a three-day workshop held in Johannesburg, South Africa, attended by medical doctors from the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Zonal Union.

Two esteemed medical professionals represented Eswatini, with former national team Sihlangu doctor, Dr Melusi Lukhele and Dr Zabenguni Mkhatshwa, Chairperson of the On-Call Doctors Committee, contributing their expertise to the proceedings.

The pair brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to the workshop, providing valuable insights into doping prevention strategies and detection techniques, contributing to the collective effort to safeguard African football from the dangers of performance-enhancing substances.

Eye-opening

Speaking to this publication, Dr. Lukhele expressed his satisfaction with representing Eswatini at the Anti-Doping Workshop, describing it as a highly educational and eye-opening experience. “It was an honour to represent our country at such an important workshop. The level of insight and knowledge shared by the various experts was truly inspiring.

We hope to utilise the learnings from this workshop to enhance our anti-doping measures in Eswatini, ensuring the integrity and fairness of our football league and beyond,” remarked Dr. Lukhele. Following the successful WAFU B Zone Anti-Doping Workshop held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in December 2024, CAF continued its anti-doping crusade with the COSAFA regional workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Attracting a mix of 35 male and female participants, the Johannesburg workshop was designed to familiarise participants with the FIFA and CAF-approved MODOC System, equipping them with the tools and skills to effectively implement anti-doping procedures in their respective countries and zones.

Testing

Committed to maintaining the integrity of African football, CAF is streamlining doping control processes through the introduction of the cutting-edge MODOC System, which digitises and simplifies doping testing procedures, reducing human error while aligning with CAF’s strategic focus on maximising the use of technology.

The three-day workshop, running from Monday to Wednesday, featured a comprehensive schedule of theoretical and practical sessions to equip participants with the knowledge, tools and techniques required to safeguard African football against doping.

From insightful lectures to hands-on demonstrations, the training programme encompassed a wide range of activities designed to empower participants to effectively employ the MODOC System, implement CAF’s Anti-Doping measures and remain vigilant against prohibited substances and supplements.

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