As a physician I always believed that medicines play a significant role in the well being of human beings and they are the guardians of human lives especially when they are brought under control of well meaning physicians. The impact of this statement takes a different turn when we replace the word “medicines” with the word “Drugs”. People are paranoid about drug addiction as the picture emerging in front of them becomes synonymous with habit forming, highly addictive and dangerous narcotics which can destroy the society as a whole. We have an obligation to fight against drug abuse and drug addiction. This is also a common agenda for all governments to work with and protect the citizens and their athletes who bring glory to the country… The WADA slogan. “Say No To Drugs “ is very apt , but it cannot be reframed as “Say No To Medicines” which will look very odd though both slogans carry the same meaning but their implications are far apart.
In the midst of this confusing scenario of drugs and medicines, a group of powerful sports administrators who were hungry for power got together as they smelt an opportunity to do fishing in troubled waters. Health being a soft target this group came in front as self styled protectors of athlete’s health globally… They had very little chance to sneak into sports and rule it as the International Olympic committee had already taken full global control of sports.
That was the time when the East German athletes were emerging as champions of the world amidst rumors of a state sponsored Doping program. The anti communist propaganda which was gathering strength at that time made the task of this group easier. The power hungry group found golden opportunity to blow the whistle. Knowing full well about the hatred of the public towards drugs and their soft corner for medicines, the group worked full time to proclaim to the world especially to the athlete’s fraternity that doping is rampant in sports and it is a threat to sports, real killers of athletes… Those who were working in the field of drug addiction gave full support to the group without understanding the difference between narcotics and the medicines which some athletes were found using. There was unanimity among all that drug usage in sports should be curbed, though there was no rampant drug abuse among athletes. Encouraged by these developments, the group went ahead and established the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) in 1999 with its Head Office in Lausanne. They made all national governments and International sports federations signatories to WADA Code. They could rope in UNESCO for collaboration .Even today the public believe that Doping in sports is all about destructive and dangerous hard drugs like Cocaine, MDMA, Heroin etc where as the fact is that all medicines which are banned as per WADA Code are prescription medicines which the doctors administer to their patients. WADA shy away from disclosing this vital information to the public.
WADA’s argument for bringing in doping control in sports is indeed flimsy. WADA claims that doping enhances performance without much supporting data. The other argument is that doping is injurious to athletes. Here also WADA fails to produce evidence based medicine…
Doping as well as doping control both is harmful to sports. WADA labels athletes as cheats and dishonest .The recently held Enhanced Games in USA gave a slap to WADA where doped athletes finished behind clean athletes and where comprehensive medical tests failed to detect any health problems in the doped athletes.
Over the years WADA has grown into s a monster which destroys the career of athletes, and accord sanctions which may last lifelong.
The world is slowly realizing the harm WADA does on athletes by interfering with the athlete’s privacy, training and competition schedules, the mental agony and financial loss.
With overzealous doping control in vogue, ironically more and more athletes are caught on doping some for using a cough syrup., for taking a medicine for controlling blood sugar, controlling Blood pressure, a diuretic for passing more urine .Doping cases have going up with India occupying the top dubious position on the number of athletes who got sanctioned for doping offence for lest three years
It is time now to contain WADA. For this, the athletes around the globe need to unite. Serena Williams could lead them
They will fight to get back their honour. Athletes are the pride of a country.
Good luck to Serena Williams.