Union Minister for Health and Sports attends WADA virtual meeting

Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Thet Khaing Win yesterday attended a virtual meeting hosted by the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The Deputy Minister of Health and Sports, U Myo Hlaing and officials from the sports and medical sectors also joined the meeting.
President of the World Anti-Doping Agency Mr Witold Banka, Vice-President Ms Yang Yang, officials from the WADA and Sports ministers from South and Southeast Asia, exchanged views on drugs during the meeting.
Firstly, Mr Witold Banka, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency, discussed the current situation of the World Anti-Doping Agency, conditions encountered during an epidemic and issues of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
In addition to the federations, there is a need to build a clean sports world with the participation of the private sector. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) provides support to the Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) and the Myanmar Anti-Doping Organization (MADO), the WADA president continued.
Next, Ms Yang Yang, Vice-Chairwoman of the World Anti-Doping Agency, said that from the beginning of an athlete’s life, effective drug education activities can help build a clean sports world. An e-Learning Programme has been successfully set up on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) website and issues of inclusive learning are being discussed.
After that, Union Minister Dr Thet Khaing Win said that the Anti-Doping Committee in Myanmar was reconstituted in 2019 and consequently the Myanmar Anti-Doping Organization (MADO) website was launched earlier this year.
Athlete support information is being disseminated to anti-doping professionals.
Plans are underway to translate the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA Code) into the Myanmar language and establish a drug law.
MADO, with the support of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s anti-doping agency, conducts annual doping tests outside of the Games and sends them to a laboratory in Qatar accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency in collaboration with the South East Asia Anti-Doping Agency.
Inspections are being made to control drug use in domestic sports competitions,” the Union Minister added.
The Union Minister called on the Myanmar Anti-Doping Organization (MADO) to work with the Southeast Asian Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency to provide technical support for drug research and development in Myanmar.
Afterwards, sports ministers from various countries briefed on the anti-doping activities of the respective countries and difficulties encountered in the operation of illicit drugs.
Next, Japan’s sports minister discussed anti-doping measures at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Representatives from each of the countries concerned shared their experiences as well and concluded the meeting. —MNA