A national committee will be set up to combat cases of doping in sports in Bahrain.
The Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) endorsed the establishment of the panel which will enforce the anti-doping laws and regulations.
Chaired by Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS) first deputy chairman and BOC president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the board approved the panel which will launch awareness campaigns to warn against the dangers of doping in sports.
Bahrain was among the first countries to ratify the international convention against doping in sports.
The committee will be authorised to monitor doping and subject athletes to drug tests at any time through random samples.
Shaikh Khalid hailed Bahrain’s landmark sports achievements, which turned the ‘Year of Gold’ from a mere slogan into reality.
Bahrain athletes excelled in different competitions, bagging a total of 683 medals, including 304 gold.
Shaikh Khalid paid tribute to His Majesty King Hamad, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier for their support.
He also commanded the efforts of His Majesty’s representative for Charity Work and Youth Affairs and SCYS chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
The BOC board decided to merge the traditional sports and the mind and electronic games association under the umbrella of the Bahrain Council for Traditional Sports and Mind and Electronic Games. A sports club for electronic games will also be established.
The board has also endorsed the 2020 budget of the Bahrain Olympic Committee and other sports associations and discussed the evaluation criteria which will be implemented in the coming years to distribute budgets. .
The panel endorsed the fourth edition of the National Sports Day, which will be held on February 11.
An organising committee chaired by BOC secretary-general Mohammed Hassan Al Nusuf has been set up for the National Sports Day.
Shaikh Khalid stressed the importance of lining up varied sports programmes and activities, underlining the need to engage government departments, public and private enterprises, citizens and expatriates in the event.