Maintaining discipline and ensuring proper nutrition are key factors for athletes to perform well.
To continue participating in various competitions, athletes must be cautious about the medications they consume, even for medical purposes, as these medications may contain banned substances.
“Given the difficulty of determining whether a medication contains banned substances or not, it is essential to identify the types of medications being prescribed,” said Dr. Jatmiko Wicaksono, a lecturer at the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM) and staff at the Science and Technology and Research and Development Division of KONI DIY.
This advice was given during a Round Table Discussion titled “Achieving PON Success Without Doping” held recently at RS Siloam Yogyakarta. The event was a collaboration between FK-KMK UGM, KONI DIY, and RS Siloam.
Dr. Wicaksono mentioned that he is developing a doping screening application that will greatly assist medical teams in identifying prescribed medications in preparation for the 2024 PON.
“Through this application, medical teams can easily determine whether the medications given to athletes fall under the doping list,” he said.
If the required medication contains banned substances but is essential for an athlete due to a specific medical condition, the National Anti-Doping Organization (IADO) can grant a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
He outlined several special medical conditions where such exemptions might be applicable, including treatment for severe injuries, athletes with recurrent asthma, athletes with heart conditions, or other medical histories that necessitate the use of specific medications without alternative options.
Dr. Wicaksono warned athletes to be cautious about consuming medications that may contain banned substances. He noted that during the PON 2021, some athletes faced sanctions for doping violations, which serves as a serious warning for those competing in PON 2024 this September.
“At PON 2021, three gold medalists, one silver, and one bronze medalist had their victories stripped, were required to return all prizes and bonuses, and received suspensions of up to four years,” he said.
Author: Santi Andriyani
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Image: Freepik
Post-editor: Afif