Dubai: Anita DeFrantz, Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), sent out a clear warning to athletes and nations adopting the doping path for success in sport.
“Firstly, there is no guarantee of winning through doping. And secondly, you have no idea of what you are taking. Further, you don’t even know what it’s going to do to you, and probably it’s not going to help you win any way,” DeFrantz told Gulf News on the sidelines of the Dubai International Sports Creativity Symposium held at the Palazzo Versace on Wednesday.
“Your heart and your head is what helps you to win, and what is more important that doping is doing your training properly and being dedicated in developing skills that will help you to win,” she added.
Doping is one of the biggest modern-day issues affecting sport and it has been especially highlighted after many Russian athletes were banned from participating in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games following revelations of state-sponsored doping.
“I know people asking me at the start line what does it take to win a medal? And, I say to them, in return: ‘I need to ask myself if I have done everything to possibly help me to prepare better for competition? There is nothing but the human spirit that can help you rise,” DeFrantz said.
“And I say there is everything, especially the human spirit, that makes us race, compete and win,” she added.
