Rwanda National Athletics Federation (RAF) is planning to set up a commission that will be charged with screening local athletes before taking part in any local or international competitions.

The decision to establish the commission came up during an Extra-Ordinary General Assembly held on January 9.  RAF approved 59 articles of the internal regulations, among them the medical programme.

Johnson Rukundo, the RAF secretary general said the ‘medical’ commission will work with the federation technical team and will be composed of medical experts who will offer advice to participants, ahead of any events like the Kigali Peace Marathon.

"The commission will aid us to examine and carry out checkups on participants, as well as offer medical advice to athletes. Some of the athletes have no clue about what medical prescriptions are.

"So, the commission will advise on such issues,” Rukundo added.

When asked whether the commission will also deal with issues to do with doping,” Rukundo said such tests on athletes will be left to Regional and World Doping Agencies.

Meanwhile, Dr Emmanuel Nsengiyumva the president of the Rwanda Sports Medical Federation said they will work closely with the medical commission through education and training

"At the moment, all federations have to follow the international anti-doping laws and regulations apparently issues to do with doping in Rwanda are handled by the National Olympic and Sports Committee RNOSC.”

One of the reasons is because Rwanda lacks a National Anti-Doping Agency, and Dr. Nsengiyumva, who is also the among the regional representatives of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) believes that establishing the medical commission is timely.  

He said: "It takes a long process to put up one (national anti-doping agency) in terms of personal, budget and structures, nonetheless it is work in progress. Right now we can only educate, train and advise all national sports federations and the athletes about issues to do with doping.”

Dr. Nsengiyumva’s comments come in the wake of a four-year ban imposed on Rwandan athlete Robert Kajuga for evading a doping test last year. However, he is waiting for verdict from IAAF after appealing against the decision.

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