Question NW3834 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
02 November 2022 - NW3834
Joseph, Mr D to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
Whether he intends to establish a commission of enquiry into the reportedly increased drug abuse amongst various sports codes, including illegal substances such as cocaine, as reported in the Rapport newspaper on 2 and 9 October 2022, and according to the response by the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport; if not, what policy changes are necessary to get rid of doping in sporting codes; if so, by what date will the commission be established?
Reply:
- No, I do not the powers to nor the intention to establish a commission of enquiry, and the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) agrees with me, not to establish it. SAIDS are collaborating with the South African Chapter of the International Society of Substance Abuse Professionals (ISSUP) to adapt its educational materials to provide detailed information pertaining to addiction and illicit drugs as part of the SAIDS Education Programme. No areas requiring policy change have been identified.