We drew this conclusion recently after the conversation with Areg Hovhannisyan, the Head of the Republican Centre of Sports Medicine and Anti-Doping Services, who participated in the World Conference of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) held in Johannesburg.
It appears that in all countries, including our Regional Anti-Doping Organizations, which includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania, unlike Armenia, a doping test is conducted in all internal competitions. In our country, there is no such thing. Funding from the state budget is provided for in these countries. In our country, there is no such budget item. Although, Armenia has signed underneath the UNESCO Convention, which was ratified by the National Assembly, it says that the state shall promote the realization of doping test.
As per Areg Hovhannisyan, no doping test is conducted at any Championship in Armenia and, first of all, at the weightlifting. To our question whether ARMNOC does not conduct anything in this respect, Mr. Hovhannisyan replied, “The Olympic Committee deals only with the Olympic teams at the phase of the Olympic Games. Before the Olympic Games in London, ARMNOC conducted a doping tests with each member of the Olympic team, and 3-4 times – with weightlifters. I wish it were always like that… The Olympic Committee has no right to conduct a doping test at the Championships in Armenia. It is the duty of the state.”
The fact that the state does not take the fight against doping serious is also proved that the conference in Johannesburg was attended by representatives of ministries of sports from almost all countries. And, there was nobody from Armenia. And, it is the case that the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs had received a letter from WADA.
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