Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Fear has gripped both the ministry of sports and the National Olympic Committee, with the national men’s basketball team now exposed to a potential elimination from the ongoing FIBA Men’s Africa World Cup Qualifiers.
The ministry and the South Sudan Olympic Committee are in a race against time to have the country fully comply with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations.
South Sudan is one of the two countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan, that has yet to comply with the stringent anti-doping rules that include establishing a national anti-doping body.
Peter Baptist, the undersecretary at the ministry of youth and sports, says the lack of proper regulatory frameworks is a loophole that may be used by the ‘enemies of South Sudan’ to have the country kicked out of the World Cup should South Sudan book the tickets.
“I just want to be honest here, we have delayed ratifying the anti-doping convention as a country,” Baptist said during one day of anti-doping orientation and awareness.
He stated that unless action is taken as soon as feasible, the nation risks being disqualified from the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
“It is very risky, especially with our basketball team. Some countries may take advantage of the loophole and [lodge a complaint against us] and we might be kicked out of the FIBA World Cup if we qualify.,” Baptist added.
He revealed that in October 2022, UNESCO requested that they, as a nation, ratify the anti-doping convention in order to reduce future hazards.
The vice president of the National Olympic Committee, Rebecca Joshua, who also serves as the government’s chief whip at the national legislature, said the matter is serious and needs immediate action rather than just talking if the nation is to prevent any inconvenience for the national team.
“As the acting National Olympic Committee and Chief Whip in Parliament, I want to promise that I will do everything possible to ensure that the country is safe in participating in any sports competition,” she said.
“I just want to be hopeful that even with how short it is, we have done many things that sometimes seemed impossible, but in the end, we succeeded, so let us be hopeful that we can succeed,” she added.
In addition, Tap Raj Pant, Head of Education Unit and Education Programme Expert at UNESCO, urged South Sudan to reassure the competing athletes.
“Anti-doping policies are something that is essential for any country that participates in sports activities, and as such, UNESCO still appeals to South Sudan’s sports authorities to work towards ratifying the treaty.”
“You may never know someone is there waiting to give you opportunities,” he added.
According to Edward Yugu, Director General of Sports at the Ministry of Youth and Sport in South Sudan, anti-doping programs were initiated long before South Sudan established the National Olympic Committee (NOC), but the country has yet to reform the convention despite best efforts.
“The statute has been sent to the ministry of justice. It was supposed to be sent to the cabinet last week, but the cabinet didn’t sit last due to the busy schedule of the president.”
“Th ministry is exploring other options. We may write a letter directly to the president in order to ratify the anti-doping policy,” he added.
The national team just needs a single win in Egypt, host of the final leg of the FIBA Africa Men’s World Cup Qualifiers, to book its maiden trip to the global event.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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