The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) has inaugurated its first regional workshop for new Doping Control Officers (DCOs) in Cairo, Egypt. This marks the beginning of a series of training programs aimed at enhancing doping control measures across the continent.
Eighteen DCOs from the UNIFFAC region, including representatives from Cameroon, DR Congo, Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic, Chad, and Sao Tome & Principe, are participating in this pioneering workshop.
The selection process was rigorous, requiring candidates to have active medical practice, experience in doping controls, membership in their National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO), and proficient computer skills.
The workshop, led by Raul Chipenda, CAF’s Director of Development Division, and Sherif Abou El Enein, Senior Manager of CAF Anti-Doping Unit, with support from the WADA Africa Office, covers a comprehensive range of topics.
These include FIFA and CAF anti-doping strategies, the organization of medical operations during CAF competitions, the doping control procedure, and the implementation of the MODOC paperless system.
Practical sessions on doping control and discussions on prohibited substances, supplement abuse, and Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) are also included.
During the opening ceremony, Chipenda stated, “I am pleased to welcome you to Cairo on behalf of CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe and CAF General Secretary Mr. Veron Mosengo-Omba. At CAF, we are committed to implementing doping controls in all of our competitions, including interclub tournaments. It is essential for us to have well-trained control officers, and we are excited to collaborate with WADA to achieve this goal. Initially, CAF conducted about 125 tests per year, but now we conduct over 940 tests annually, with plans for further growth in the coming years. Conducting more and higher-quality tests will ensure that football is played in a healthy and fair manner.”
Sameh El Ray, Manager of the WADA Africa Office, added, “For several years, WADA has worked closely with CAF, as well as FIFA, to pursue optimal alignment between their respective anti-doping programs, as well as those of the countries in which they operate. Thanks to the significant efforts undertaken by the CAF Anti-Doping Unit, as well as the Directorate of Development, our efforts are now bearing fruit and showing tangible results. This is made evident through the organisation of this first training initiative by CAF for candidate DCOs selected and nominated by their countries’ respective National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs). Overall, we strongly believe that this cooperation will be beneficial for all parties, as it will strengthen and streamline CAF’s anti-doping initiatives, as well as support the local development of national anti-doping programs.”
This workshop is the first of several that will be held for Doping Control Officers from various African regions throughout the 2024-2025 season.
