Harbin, China, August 16, 2025: The pitfalls of using banned substances and supplements were the final lesson handed out to participants at the OCA-ISU-CAIC Asian Figure Skating Youth Camp in Harbin on Saturday, August 16.
Dr. Venera Abdulla, a member of the Olympic Council of Asia’s Anti-Doping Commission, conducted the 45-minute session during which she opened the eyes of the young athletes, aged from 11 to 16 years, to ‘what figure skating needs to know about anti-doping’.
Anti-doping was the final educative segment in the OCA’s ‘Guarding the Asian Games’ initiative following Olympic Values, Safeguarding, and the Prevention of Competition Manipulation.
In a bid to inform young athletes, and coaches, on all four aspects, the OCA had sent specialised instructors to Harbin, and it was the turn of Dr. Abdulla, who is also a member of the board of the Central Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADOCA).
“This presentation will be valuable to you in the future as you aim to compete at the Asian Games and Olympics,” Dr. Abdulla told her young audience. Her multi-lingual presentation – English and Russian – started with a video clip of Spanish pair skater Laura Barquero who is currently serving a six-year ban after testing positive for using a skin cream.
The athletes and coaches were then taken through various facets including: (a) the 11 anti-doping rule violations; (b) what is on the prohibited list; (c) how to check medication; (d) the dangers of using supplements.
Her Q&A session proved a hit with the youngsters as she was gave away T-shirts for the right answers. Among the winners were Indonesian Rafif Putra, Indian Aarush Tiwari and Vietnamese Pham Van Minh.
Dr. Abdulla’s question ‘What is TUE?’ prompted an answer “Tuesday”. Cue, laughter ensued until the right response “Therapeutic Use Exemption” with the explanation that in certain cases, athletes can apply for permission to use medication on the prohibited list.
All participants were reminded that they are responsible for what is found in their bodies and systems, and to ensure that they carefully check online on if what they are ingesting is legal.
The anti-doping lesson was the final segment in the OCA’s aim to educate athletes and coaches outside the playing field, or in this case, the ice rink.
