FIFA picks Uganda for steroid tests
Jun 04, 2007
TESTS will soon be carried out on Ugandan footballers to determine the standard testosterone levels for Africans. The study is being done by the world football governing body FIFA to set a database on African, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic and African American ethnic groups.
By James Bakama
TESTS will soon be carried out on Ugandan footballers to determine the standard testosterone levels for Africans. The study is being done by the world football governing body FIFA to set a database on African, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic and African American ethnic groups.
Sportsmen found with excesses of the chemical by anti-doping teams have previously argued that they had high testosterone levels because of their ethnicity.
Testosterone belongs to a group of natural hormones, “steroidsâ€, which are produced by the body. Testosterone boosts performance when possessed in excess, thus the interest by sportsmen in boosting their levels—artificially— which is illegal.
The study, which will have urine samples taken from 30 players from Super League army soccer side Simba, will focus on testosterone metabolism.
FIFA Sports Medicine Instructor Dr. James Sekajugo confirmed that the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC) has selected Uganda to represent the African ethnic group.
Sekajugo explained that Ugandan footballers shall therefore also be a reference for doping tests.
“Simba provided the best choice for an all-Ugandan group because of the recruitment policy in the army,†clarified Sekajugo.
He explained Cranes, that has just beaten Nigeria 2-1 in a Nations Cup tie, were not considered because they are now out of camp.
The specimens will be submitted to the FIFA headquarters in Zurich in a fortnight for scrutiny. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has vowed to fight cheating in football.
TESTS will soon be carried out on Ugandan footballers to determine the standard testosterone levels for Africans. The study is being done by the world football governing body FIFA to set a database on African, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic and African American ethnic groups.
Sportsmen found with excesses of the chemical by anti-doping teams have previously argued that they had high testosterone levels because of their ethnicity.
Testosterone belongs to a group of natural hormones, “steroidsâ€, which are produced by the body. Testosterone boosts performance when possessed in excess, thus the interest by sportsmen in boosting their levels—artificially— which is illegal.
The study, which will have urine samples taken from 30 players from Super League army soccer side Simba, will focus on testosterone metabolism.
FIFA Sports Medicine Instructor Dr. James Sekajugo confirmed that the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC) has selected Uganda to represent the African ethnic group.
Sekajugo explained that Ugandan footballers shall therefore also be a reference for doping tests.
“Simba provided the best choice for an all-Ugandan group because of the recruitment policy in the army,†clarified Sekajugo.
He explained Cranes, that has just beaten Nigeria 2-1 in a Nations Cup tie, were not considered because they are now out of camp.
The specimens will be submitted to the FIFA headquarters in Zurich in a fortnight for scrutiny. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has vowed to fight cheating in football.