Solon seeks regulation of performance-enhancing drugs in sports

Antipolo City 1st District Rep. Cristina “Chiqui” Roa-Puno has filed a bill seeking to regulate the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports, which she said poses “an unfair advantage in competitions” and “extreme danger to the health of the athletes.”

Puno on Thursday filed House Bill No. 8544, saying the country should act swiftly on the problem of doping in sports especially with less than two years to go before the next Olympics.

Earlier this year, news about the suspension of Gilas Pilipinas player Kiefer Ravena raised the possibility of an athlete unknowingly ingesting substances that are prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

“When we think about doping, we immediately think drugs, but substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) can also be found in dietary supplements and may even be in grocery and food items found in health food stores and online,” Roa-Puno said in a statement on Friday.

“This is why it is important that we act fast and safeguard our athletes from these banned substances,” she added.

Roa-Puno noted that to date, the Philippines has limited its legislation to the regulation of drugs or narcotics through Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. But the law only deals with the use of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and prescription medications.

Once enacted into law, HB 8544 would ensure that the Philippines complies with its duties as a state party to the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sport, and adopt an anti-doping policy in agreement with the principles of fairness, equity, legality, and transparency in sporting activities.

Puno, who is Deputy Majority Leader and vice chairperson of the House committee on youth and sports added that the bill will create the Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization (PH-NADO), an independent body with the sole responsibility of carrying out anti-doping activities in the Philippines.

This organization, she added, would “work towards combating and preventing doping in all international and national-level sports; testing for prohibited substances and methods, and stipulating penalties and sanctions for its violations.”  /muf