KUWAIT, A number of heads of sports federations and clubs in Kuwait agreed that regularly practicing sports for youth could help improve their social behavior, especially avoiding drugs.
In separate statements to KUNA on Tuesday, the officials noted that sports give confidence to practitioners and encourage a healthy lifestyle both physically and mentally, as well as boost a person’s mood.
In this context, head of Kuwait Weight Lifting Federation Talal Al-Jassar said that practicing weight lifting or other sports in public clubs and national teams differ from practicing in private clubs, as youth in national teams are fully aware of the risks of using steroids and other drugs. Using any type of performance enhancing drugs could lead the athlete to a long-term suspension from taking part in tournaments, or could sometimes become a permanent suspension, he added.
The federation is continuously cooperating with Kuwait Anti-Doping Agency to test athletes in all local and international tournaments, he said.
On his part, head of Kuwait Winter Games Club Fuhaid Al-Ajmi affirmed that the long time spent by players in exercising and playing games in different sports help avoiding the use of drugs, as the main factor for drug-use is the big amount of free time for both genders.
Meanwhile, head of Kuwait Basketball Association Rushaid Al-Anezi said that all sports federations are committed to protect their players against the dangers of drugs. He called on officials to spread awareness among youth, sport crews and society on the risks of using steroids.
Engaging in sports develops a well-behaved personality that respects laws in children and teenagers, a characteristic that can protect against using drugs, he added.
In 2005, Kuwait Public Authority for Sport joined the Copenhagen Declaration, under the World Anti-Doping Agency, signed during the second World Conference on Doping in Sport in 2003. This was followed by establishing the Kuwait Anti-Doping Agency.
Source: Kuwait News Agency