PSC looks to strengthen anti-doping program

After clearing a compliance issue with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization (PHI-NADO) are moving forward.

WADA officially removed the Philippines from its compliance watchlist earlier this month after the country addressed the required corrective actions.

The Philippines had been at risk of suspension from international events including the upcoming Paris Olympics had it been unable to respond to WADA's warning, initially issued in September 2023.

WADA has since closed the compliance procedure against the Philippines, and the PSC is now looking to stay clear of any further complications by strengthening its anti-doping program.

To achieve that, the PSC wants PHI-NADO to become a fully independent body as practiced by other countries, and continue to educate all the stakeholders, including the various national sports associations (NSAs), and the thousands of athletes and coaches under its watch.

"Given the progression of the anti-doping world a lot of countries have independent anti-doping agencies. This is the proper time we have one in PHi-NADO," said PSC executive director Paulo Tatad in Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

"We are making sure we do the necessary steps. Our friends in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand gave a lot of insights. And given all of that, we are in the right direction," said Tatad during the forum.

Also gracing the forum were PSC chairman Richard Bachmann, PHI-NADO chief Dr. Alex Pineda and testing operations head Nathan Vasquez.

Bachmann cited Malacanang's "total support" in the bid to create an independent PHI-NADO that can fully cater to the high demands of the national athletes and become fully compliant with the WADA code. Lending a hand with this cause are members of the Senate and Lower House.

"The threat that came with WADA non-compliance meant that starting last Feb. 22, we would not have been allowed to host international sporting events like FIBA qualifiers (among others) and that if a Filipino wins in international competitions, the Philippine flag cannot fly. Of course, (it affects) our national pride," said Pineda.

The PHI-NADO chief said settling the non-compliance issue "is just the first step," and that more actions need to be taken.

"We are being monitored by WADA not on testing alone but on anti-doping education as well, capacity building, management of results and data privacy," he said.

"We need to work with PSC, the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee), and the NSAs. Kailangan ang collaboration," Pineda added. 

As part of the compliance, PHI-NADO must communicate daily with the NSAs and the athletes and coaches, and keep reminding them of their responsibilities as far as anti-doping is concerned.

"The job is not yet done. It has a lot to do with testing, education and other aspects of doping," said Vasquez.