Sports organizations around the world are not lowering their guard on the use of any performance enhancing drugs that their players may use to get competitive advantage. Moreover, they are also looking into the incidence of recreational drugs used by some players. Recreational drugs are said to be more common to sports which do not require great stamina and strength like tennis and golf. However, there are also cases where these drugs were used in football and wrestling. These two types of drugs pose some health risks and problems to the athletes.

In Fiji, the president of FIJI Football Association, Doctor Muhammed Shams-ud Dean Sahu Khan, said that he is instituting a stricter policy that will impose a life ban for any player or official found guilty of being involved in drugs. He made this pronouncement when it was revealed that most district presidents of football association know the rampant use of marijuana by some its players.

“It is simple that if any player or official is found guilty, they will be banned and this can even be life bans,” Sahu Khan said. “My message to all those who are indulging or thinking about it, refrain from it as Fiji FA will not tolerate it,” he added.

Under the Fiji Football Association (FIFA) anti doping laws, recreational drugs are included in its illegal substance use. Players or officials using marijuana are definitely violating these policies. President Sahu Khan said that fair play was their primary concern. They don’t want to have any player or official involved in smoking marijuana.

In the Battle of the Giants last year, drug testing was carried out but it was too expensive for the association since they have to send the tests overseas. Although it is still an option and plans to continue the process. “There is no place in sports for use of illegal substances,” according to its lawyer.

The football association also revealed that the most common cause of positive doping test are not steroids but for marijuana and cocaine. These recreational drugs affects the psychological or physical performance of an athlete. It can cause impairment of his performance and the heart rate increases and blood pressure drops. Marijuana on the other hand, provide the effects of relaxation and contentment.

Taking supplements are also common to most footballers in Fiji. Anti-doping bodies have always warned the players that the use of these supplements may return a positive test. Since these are available in shops, fitness clubs and the internet, the use of these can be difficult to monitor. Based on some studies, over the counter hormonal and non-hormonal dietary supplements may be mislabeled and may contain anabolic-androgenic steroids or prohormones. These can lead to unintentional doping which can cause suspension of the player and the worst is being banned from the sports for life.

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