All Belarusian athletes take doping tests ahead of 2nd European Games

Belarusian athletes are closely watched by anti-doping agencies ahead of the 2nd European Games in Minsk, Director of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) Denis Muzhzhukhin told the media on 28 February, BelTA has learned.

According to the NADA head, not only future participants of the games but also potential candidates for national teams are checked during practice and competitions. Athletes regularly receive all necessary information on the latest requirements of the international anti-doping services to approach the 2nd European Games fully prepared, he added.

Denis Muzhzhukhin said that the organizers will make every effort to protect athletes from ill-wishers during the upcoming competitions. It is known that sometimes prohibited methods are used to eliminate competitors. Prohibited substances are added to food and drinks of competitors. In order to avoid such incidents, athletes should be very careful and drink only from containers which they unseal and do not leave their food unattended. Special precautions will be undertaken to protect athletes. CCTV cameras will be installed in arenas, places of residence, canteens, sample collection sites. Besides, people without special accreditation will not be allowed into the “zones of special attention”. So, we can hope that clean athletes will be safe and will be able to show their best at the competitions, the director of the Belarusian NADA said.

The 2nd European Games will be held at 29 facilities on 21-30 June. Taking part in the competitions will be about 4,000 athletes from 50 countries.

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