LEON & IRAPUATO (Mexico) - Players' Workshop sessions have been held at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2024 with the aim of raising awareness and knowledge of anti-doping practices.
Now an embedded part of every global FIBA youth event, the themed Players' Workshops already have a tremendous track record of supporting and educating young ballers in recent years.
Four sessions were facilitated in the host cities of Leon and Irapuato, and attendees at the one-hour workshops received valuable expert insight and advice.
Aimed at fostering engagement, there were not only presentations and questions, but also interactive activities. This included simulated anti-doping tests involving some of the players present.
The topics covered were:
Why anti-doping, the definition of doping and how to protect your career
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List
The risks of nutritional supplements
Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE's)
Doping control procedure
Simulation of a sample collection process
List of resources and useful links to stay informed and check medications
FIBA Central Board member Carol Callan offered her valuable insight and told the audience: “In my more than 25 years of experience managing the USA Basketball Women’s teams, the only two things that left players out of the court were injuries or doping."
"Be responsible," she pleaded to the players.
Participants were urged to be aware of what goes into their bodies, and it was a clear theme that was underlined by Supervisory Doctor Almudena Rivera, who stated: "You are responsible for any prohibited substance that is found in your system. Tell medical professionals they are not allowed to give you prohibited methods or substances and be available for testing.
"Protecting your career is protecting your dream."
In line with the International Olympic Movement, FIBA has been actively engaged in the fight against doping in basketball since 1989. From 2004, this has also been done in collaboration with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
In 2009, FIBA also started its own 'Out-of-Competition Testing' program, while for more than two decades, the FIBA 'Clean Game' campaign has been a driving force in raising the level of anti-doping awareness across the sport.
FIBA