By Charles Achoda
The National Anti-Doping Organisation Uganda (NADO-U) has intensified its campaign for clean, fair and safe sport with a major education outreach targeting para-athletes, coaches and support personnel during the Annual National Disability Sports Gala in Soroti.
The three-day education and awareness drive held at Soroti Sports Ground, was led by NADO-U lead educator, Dr. Christopher Mbowa.
This initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Uganda Paralympic Committee (UPC).
The programme aims at equipping para-athletes and their entourages with accurate, up-to-date anti-doping information to help them understand what the sporting environment expects of them and what they are entitled to as athletes.
Dr. Mbowa, who is guiding interactive sessions on the prohibited list, prohibited methods, informed decision-making, athlete health, and the anti-doping testing process, said inclusion is at the heart of NADO-U’s mandate.
“Clean sport education must reach every athlete, regardless of the sport they participate in or their level of competition. Our responsibility is to ensure athletes have the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions and understand their rights and responsibilities,” Dr. Mbowa said.
He emphasized that prevention starts with knowledge, noting that many anti-doping rule violations, especially among emerging athletes, arise from lack of information about medications and supplements.
The Uganda Paralympic Committee (UPC) has welcomed the partnership, describing anti-doping education as a critical pillar for the growth and credibility of para-sports in Uganda.
As para-sport continues to gain momentum across the country, there is an urgent need to ensure that athletes, coaches, medical personnel and other support staff have reliable knowledge of the anti-doping rules, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List, and their obligations under the World Anti-Doping Code.
“Education is one of the most effective ways of preventing both intentional and unintentional anti-doping rule violations. It empowers athletes to make informed decisions, protect their health and careers, and compete with confidence and integrity,” said Synole Patrick, Director of Administration at the Uganda Paralympic Committee.
Synole noted that athlete rights and responsibilities remain central to the training.
He encouraged para-athletes to be fully aware of the protections accorded to them during the anti-doping process, including the right to be accompanied, the right to information, and the responsibility to take personal ownership of what enters their bodies.
Participants were particularly cautioned to seek proper medical guidance before using any medication or nutritional supplement, since some products may contain banned substances. This guidance is especially crucial for para-athletes, who may have specific medical needs and ongoing treatments that require Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs).
Officials said the Soroti engagement is part of NADO-U’s national strategy to decentralize anti-doping education beyond elite able-bodied sport and reach athletes at grassroots and disability sport levels.
NADO-U pledged to continue working with federations and disability sports bodies to ensure para-athletes and their support teams are equipped to compete safely, confidently and with integrity, in line with international best practices.
