DOING THE RIGHT THING
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 09 Aug 2013
News stories about high-profile athletes testing positive for anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs have resurfaced in recent days. This will remain a cause for concern in the years to come. The issue of drug testing has also been a source of unease for sportswriters and boxing insiders here in the Philippines and we ask ourselves if the people responsible for making policy and implementing the rules are doing enough to protect honest athletes from the cheaters.
I?m not the guy responsible for modifying and updating the rules for testing. I?m just a guy who makes suggestions when he has the chance and tries to write a coherent article every now and then.
But I also feel that more people should be compelled to speak about this issue. The ?powers that be? in our country should stop making COST as an excuse not to have more intensive drug testing. They should start considering COST vs RISK vs BENEFIT. We continue to host international events, not just in boxing, but in basketball, football and distance races. Are we doing enough to ensure a level playing field?
How sure are we that the cheating culture has not invaded our shores and no one has tried it locally when we never updated our testing procedures?
Boxing already has its inherent risks. Why wait until something tragic happens directly due to performance enhancing drugs? We also have to make certain that competent emergency medical personnel with the right equipment are available in both small and big fight cards. We owe it Karlo Maquinto, Romnick Dablo and Jog Alim.
It has become a tradition of mine here in philboxing to write an article about HIV/AIDS every first of December. I spent two years as a volunteer doctor treating AIDS patients in Africa and I know how bad it can get. I have made suggestions regarding regular HIV screening for our boxers and other full contact sports.
We should stop making cost as an excuse and consider the risks especially when AIDS cases in the Philippines are on the rise. But like I said, I am not the guy with the power to make guidelines, just one of the guys who receives indiscriminate blood splatter at ringside.
One of the things that I learned in Africa is that petty corruption and indifference can lead to the loss of lives. Anyone who has lived here in the Philippines also know that the noble acts of a few are smothered by the apathy and incompetence of the many.
Even the simple deed of being PUNCTUAL is a very difficult task for many of us.
Screaming to high heavens that we are proud to be Filipino when our athletes win is not enough. That is too shallow. Those who have the power to change things should do more and not just use our boxers and other athletes for photo-ops. We are still a long way from what our President has preached and aspired ? the straight and narrow path.
POST SCRIPT:
On a more personal note, my mother?s lingering illness got worse over the past week and I reflected on the conversations we had when I was a child about doing the right thing. She is getting better now and this article is dedicated to her.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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