According to a press release on its official website, the African football governing body, CAF, launched its first-ever anti-doping training program for new Doping Control Officers (DCOs) in Cairo, Egypt.
Eighteen officers from Central African countries (UNIFFAC region) were chosen based on qualifications like medical background, doping control experience, and computer literacy, in collaboration with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Africa office.
CAF’s Development Director and Anti-Doping Unit Senior Manager led discussions on FIFA and CAF’s anti-doping strategies for football. These included managing doping control at CAF events, the new paperless DCO system (MODOC), prohibited substances, supplement use, and therapeutic exemptions. Practical training sessions were also included.
“We’re committed to implementing doping controls across all competitions,” said a CAF representative at the opening. “Collaboration with WADA has helped us significantly increase testing from 125 to over 940 annually, and we plan to keep raising that number to ensure fair and healthy play.
Sameh El Ray, Manager of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Africa office added: “For several years, WADA has worked closely with CAF, as well as FIFA, to pursue optimal alignment between their respective anti-doping programs, as well as those of the countries in which they operate. Thanks to the significant efforts undertaken by the CAF Anti-Doping Unit, as well as the Directorate of Development, our efforts are now bearing fruit and showing tangible results. This is made evident through the organisation of this first training initiative by CAF for candidate DCOs selected and nominated by their countries’ respective National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs). Overall, we strongly believe that this cooperation will be beneficial for all parties, as it will strengthen and streamline CAF’s anti-doping initiatives, as well as support the local development of national anti-doping programs.”
This workshop in Cairo is the first in a series of workshops that will be held with Doping Control Officers from different regions of Africa during the 2024-2025 season.
