THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) has implored athletes to desist from using drugs and cheating ahead of the National Junior Championships to be held at White City Stadium in Bulawayo on Saturday.
Over 1 000 athletes from the country’s 10 provinces will participate in one of the biggest events on the athletics calendar.
NAAZ secretary-general Cynthia Phiri urged the athletes to show the highest levels of discipline, integrity and sportsmanship.
“Only clean champions will wear the national vest. We are not only preparing our young athletes for Namibia’s Region V Games, we are shaping leaders of tomorrow,” she said.
The Junior Championships will be used to select athletes who will represent the country in the African Union Sports Council Region V Youth Games in July.
With fierce competition expected as athletes fight it out for honours and places in the national team, Phiri said the association has zero tolerance to all forms of unethical conduct.
“We must win with honour and lose with dignity. That is the spirit of Zimbabwean athletics. We will not hesitate to disqualify any athlete or official found in violation of anti-doping regulations of fairness protocols,” she said.
NAAZ has circulated updated regulations on fair play, anti-doping compliance and athletes' conduct to all provincial boards while team managers and coaches have been urged to reinforce the values of honesty, hard work and sportsmanship.
- Tagara re-elected into Confederation of African Athletics Council committee
- All set for NAAZ Junior Championships.
- 60 shortlisted for African Junior Athletics champs
- 50 Zim athletes in Zambia for Africa Junior Champs
Keep Reading
“Our young athletes must know that it is not only about medals. It’s about representing Zimbabwe with pride. Character counts just as much as performance,” said Phiri.
NAAZ will work closely with the Zimbabwe Anti-Doping Agency, and on-site sensitisation sessions will be conducted before the event, which will also see a fair play pledge ceremony being conducted before the opening races.
“Parents and fans must also be our partners. Cheating, bribery or doping should be reported immediately. We are protecting the integrity of our sport.”
Phiri thanked sponsors who have come on board to support the competition as the association reaffirmed its commitment to making the Junior Championships not only a springboard for regional success but also a shining example of sports ethics and excellence.
“We thank all our stakeholders, coaches and athletes who continue to uphold the values of clean sport. The White City Games are more than a competition; they are a declaration of our national values.
“Let every young athlete remember greatness comes not from shortcuts but from perseverance. We are not just building athletes, we are building ambassadors of honour,” she said.
The athletes will participate in events which include 200m, 400m, 1500m, 5000m, 3000m, 4x 100m relay, 4x 400m relay, as well as field events like discus and javelin, among others.
