POC assures dope-free RP team to SEAG
11/19/2009 | 05:34 PM
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping" Cojuangco, Jr. on Thursday gave an assurance that the RP team to the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos will be dope-free.
According to Cojuangco, all coaches and officials bound for the Laos meet have been briefed on which drug their athletes can and can’t use and so he expects Filipino bets to be “clean" come the SEA Games.
“Our medical commission has looked into that aspect. Sisiguraduhin natin na medicines taken by our athletes or any other substance will not lead to something like that (doping)," said Cojuangco.
Athletes who won gold medals in their respective events are required to undergo doping tests. SEAG organizers also conduct random drug tests on all athletes competing.
The Philippines once lost a SEAG gold medal due to doping issues, when a taekwondo jin tested positive for diuretics traced from a slimming tea she took before the competition.
With only two and a half weeks to go, Cojuangco declared the delegation as ready to go to battle.
A medical screening will be held starting next week to ensure that all athletes are in their best shape.
More contribution
Meanwhile, Cojuangco announced that more contribution for the stint of the cash-strapped RP SEAG team is forthcoming.
The POC is in need of at least P6.86 million to fund the 98 athletes who will not be covered by financial assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
The PSC has earlier said the government will only support 151 athletes (the gold and silver medalists of previous SEA Games), leaving the POC to look for sponsors to bankroll the rest of the delegates in the POC-approved list.
The POC has already received some P1.2 million from the Philippine Construction Association Inc. (PCA) last week and on Thursday, Cojuangco announced a total of P700,000 more from his nephew, Liberal Party standard bearer, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III and his runningmate Sen. Mar Roxas.
"I talked with them yesterday and they agreed to support five athletes each for the Laos SEA Games," Cojuangco said.
The stint of each athlete is estimated to cost P70,000 per head.
"I hope more private sectors will also contribute for this cause but we are okay as far as financial for the SEA Games is concerned," Cojuangco said.
Team Philippines will be trying to surpass its 42-gold, 92-silver and 96-bronze medal performance and sixth place finish in the previous SEA Games in Thailand two years ago. - GMANews.TV
According to Cojuangco, all coaches and officials bound for the Laos meet have been briefed on which drug their athletes can and can’t use and so he expects Filipino bets to be “clean" come the SEA Games.
Cojuangco
“Our medical commission has looked into that aspect. Sisiguraduhin natin na medicines taken by our athletes or any other substance will not lead to something like that (doping)," said Cojuangco.
Athletes who won gold medals in their respective events are required to undergo doping tests. SEAG organizers also conduct random drug tests on all athletes competing.
The Philippines once lost a SEAG gold medal due to doping issues, when a taekwondo jin tested positive for diuretics traced from a slimming tea she took before the competition.
With only two and a half weeks to go, Cojuangco declared the delegation as ready to go to battle.
A medical screening will be held starting next week to ensure that all athletes are in their best shape.
More contribution
Meanwhile, Cojuangco announced that more contribution for the stint of the cash-strapped RP SEAG team is forthcoming.
The POC is in need of at least P6.86 million to fund the 98 athletes who will not be covered by financial assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
The PSC has earlier said the government will only support 151 athletes (the gold and silver medalists of previous SEA Games), leaving the POC to look for sponsors to bankroll the rest of the delegates in the POC-approved list.
"I talked with them yesterday and they agreed to support five athletes each for the Laos SEA Games," Cojuangco said.
The stint of each athlete is estimated to cost P70,000 per head.
"I hope more private sectors will also contribute for this cause but we are okay as far as financial for the SEA Games is concerned," Cojuangco said.
Team Philippines will be trying to surpass its 42-gold, 92-silver and 96-bronze medal performance and sixth place finish in the previous SEA Games in Thailand two years ago. - GMANews.TV
