Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 16, 2022: The Olympic Council of Asia’s Diving Youth Camp opened up a whole new world for the athletes – and some of the coaches – on the morning of the second day at the Pearl Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
The participants learned a lot about two crucial areas of the Olympic movement – anti-doping and Olympic values.
The first session was presented by Gobinathan Nair, Director-General of the South East Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (SEARADO), and the second by Professor BLH Perera of Sri Lanka.
The anti-doping presentation proved to be a real eye-opener for the young athletes as they learned about prohibited substances, the step-by-step procedure of providing a urine sample for a Doping Control Officer and the need to declare any medications that are being taken to treat existing conditions. They also logged on to join an anti-doping quiz on the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) website.
The OVEP session encouraged the participants to strive for excellence not only in sport but also as a person in order to earn respect and contribute to society as a whole as a role model.
One of the students, 12-year-old Waleed Alhomrani from Saudi Arabia, volunteered to take part in the doping test simulation and admitted it was the first time he had been exposed to the complex topic.
“I learned a lot,” he said, after the two morning sessions. “I learned that doping is bad and I learned that there are certain things that are banned.
“I also learned that, if you are taking some medicine, you have to contact the TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption).”
Regarding the Olympic values and education presentation, Waleed added: “I learned that, with the human body and soul, there are three elements: the body, mind and spirit.
“Everything we learned this morning will benefit us in our life and our sports career. If, in the future, I have to take a doping test, then I am ready for it now and I know all the procedures.”
Waleed has been diving for six years, since he was six years old, and this year competed in the Bergen Open in Norway. The hardy soul says the 10m platform is his favourite event.
