The Anti-Doping Commission conducted doping controls at the 33rd Balkan Championship for Athletic Veterans in Bar

The Anti-Doping Commission had an active participation in the 33rd Balkan Championship for Athletic Veterans, held from September 27 to 29, 2024 in Bar, organized by the Association of Athletic Veterans of Montenegro and the Athletic Federation of Montenegro. At the championship, which brought together more than 700 competitors ranging in age from 35 to 85, from 25 countries who competed on the grounds of SC Topolica, the Anti-Doping Commission conducted two doping controls during the championship, as part of its continuing mission to combat the use of prohibited substances in sports.

On this occasion, the Director of the Anti-Doping Commission, Dr. Olivera Prodanović, emphasized that such actions play a key role in the prevention of doping. “Our work is not only repressive, but also educational. Our goal is for athletes of all ages to understand how important it is to preserve their integrity and compete fairly,” said Prodanović.

The mentioned controls were carried out in accordance with the technical standards of BAMA (Balkan Association of Masters Athletes), and in cooperation with the technical director of BAMA, Damjan Gril, and the vice-president of BAMA, Aycan Kurtcan. The goal of these controls was to ensure fair play and preserve the integrity of the sport, while promoting clean sports competition.

Director Prodanović particularly emphasized the importance of cooperation with the President of the Association of Athletic Veterans of Montenegro, Dejan Živković, in promoting clean sports. “This championship is important not only because of the sporting spirit that gathers veterans from the region and beyond, but also because of our common goal – preserving the integrity of sports competitions. Fair play and clean sport are the fundamental principles of every competition, regardless of age or level of competition,” Prodanović pointed out. She concluded that the Anti-Doping Commission will continue to support sports competitions in Montenegro, as well as to improve anti-doping controls in order to ensure a high standard of sports behaviour at all levels.