Background
The Regional Anti- Doping Organisation (RADO ZONE VI) was established by National Olympic Committees and Government representatives from the African Union Sports Council Region 5 countries with the assistance of the World Anti- Doping Agency (WADA) on the 2 – 3 May 2006 in Maputo, Mozambique. The establishment of RADO Zone VI is premised on the recognition that:
- Sport is a critical component of the social economic and political development of Southern Africa
- Sport is effective and ethical when practised free of drugs or doping in a spirit of fair play and mutual respect for everybody involved
- The member states of AUSC Region 5 need to pool resources and expertise in order to play a critical role in combating the scourge of drugs and doping in sport
Vision
To value and foster doping free sport in AUSC Region 5
Mission
To promote and co-ordinate the fight against doping in Sports in all its forms in AUSC Region 5
Core Values
- Independence
- Accountability
- Ethical approach
- Professionalism
- Proactive
Strategic Objectives
- To educate and inform AUSC Region 5 National Olympic Committees, governments, sporting organizations, athletes and support personnel about the dangers and consequences of doping.
- To ensure the implementation of effective doping control programs to prevent, deter and detect the use of doping in sport in AUSC Region 5.
- To provide assistance, guidance and leadership to AUSC Region 5 countries in the establishment of their National Anti-Doping program and respective compliance to the world Anti-Doping Code.
- To communicate the importance of Anti-Doping initiatives with Governments, National Olympic Committees, sporting organizations, athletes, support personnel and media to ensure effective regional buy-in, support and compliance.
- To ensure the long term sustainability of the AUSC Region 5 Regional Anti- Doping organization.
Anti-Doping Rule Violation
- Presence of a Prohibited Substance, its metabolites or markers, in athlete’s sample.
- Use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method.
- Refusing or failing without compelling justification to submit the sample collection after notification, or otherwise evading sample collection.
- Tampering or attempting to tamper with any party of doping control.
- Possession of any prohibited substance and prohibited method.
- Trafficking in any prohibited substance and method.
- Violation of requirements regarding athlete availability including failure to provide whereabouts information, and missed tests.
Advice to Athletes
- Know your sports anti-doping rules, rights and responsibilities.
- If you do not understand the procedures, ask the Doping Control Officer to explain.
- Keep a list of all medications and supplements you are taking, so that you can accurately record them on the sample collection form at the time of testing.
- Once you have been notified of a test stay in view of the doping control station as soon as possible.
- Athletes are entitled to take a representative with them to the doping control station but the representative is not permitted to be present during the sample collection.