Physical education teachers and coaches from secondary schools are set to benefit from a training course on doping in sport.
Thanks to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which will provide funding for the initiative through its Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport, PE teachers and coaches will take part in the two-day clinic slated to be held on October 29-30 at the Barbados Olympic Association headquarters, Wildey, St Michael.
Tessa Chaderton-Shaw, executive director of the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO), will be executing the project in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Barbados National Commission for UNESCO, and the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA).
Dr Adrian Lorde, chairman of the Caribbean RADO and of the National Anti-Doping Commission, along with BOA president Steve Stoute will address the workshop, which forms part of a regional effort that includes the British Virgin Islands, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia.
“The project introduces the concept of fair play at an earlier age and aims to build capacity among PE teachers and coaches so that they can use age-appropriate teaching tools in the classroom and on the playing field,” said Lorde.
He added that the overarching goal is to produce clean athletes in Barbados.
The project entitled, Levelling The Playing Field In Our Secondary Schools, aims to fill a void where there is limited anti-doping education provided to secondary school students who have the potential to be outstanding athletes, model citizens and athlete ambassadors for Barbados.
It also aims to build the knowledge base of key teaching staff to debunk the prevailing myths and misconceptions about doping.
The results of a questionnaire distributed in June to determine the level of awareness of anti-doping among PE teachers will also be disclosed. (RB/PR)
