The Anti Doping Catastrophe: How Incompetence, Silence and Selective Accountability Are Destroying Fair Play in Pakistan

 

Musarrat Ullah Jan – KikxNow , digital creator

The purpose of anti doping policies is simple. Protect clean athletes. Ensure fair competition. Educate before penalizing. Hold everyone accountable under the same rules. What makes the situation in Pakistan troubling is not only the presence of doping, which is a global challenge, but the broken structure and questionable conduct of those tasked with preventing it. When the watchdog becomes uncertain, untrained, influenced or inactive, the very idea of integrity collapses before the competition even begins.

In many countries, the discussion around doping is grounded in science, athlete welfare, transparency, and clear appeal mechanisms. In Pakistan, the conversation has been reduced to whispers, fear, selective testing, intimidation, and a disturbing absence of credible oversight.

At the center of the issue is a confused and poorly managed structure where doping tests are conducted by individuals described by athletes as untrained, inexperienced or uncertified. This is not a minor administrative problem. Anti doping is a technical field, governed by strict global protocols. A person who collects a sample without certified training risks contaminating it, mislabeling it, or compromising chain of custody. One mistake can end a career or allow a guilty athlete to walk free.

That uncertainty becomes a form of psychological punishment. Athletes are not only worried about whether their test is negative, they are worried whether their test is even handled properly. When fear replaces trust, the player steps into the arena carrying doubt instead of confidence.

The absence of a working appeal committee is a serious violation of basic fairness. Around the world, athletes have the right to question results, disagreement with process or challenge punishment. In Pakistan, because there is no functional appeal body, athletes stand alone, uninformed and unsupported. If they are told not to appeal, pressured to accept a reduced punishment, or pushed toward silence, it creates an environment that resembles negotiation not justice.

Selective accountability makes the situation worse. Athletes claim that some individuals or departments are targeted while others remain untouched. When testing becomes selective, trust collapses. Sport loses the sense of equal ground. If the system hesitates to test certain athletes or certain institutions because of influence, fear or favoritism, then the system itself becomes a threat to fair competition.

Equally alarming are allegations that some coaches instruct athletes to use prohibited substances during training in preparation for major events. This is not merely irresponsible. It is exploitation. The coach gains reputation and reward if performance improves. The athlete risks suspension, reputation, and health. Weak awareness campaigns, insufficient education, and absence of medical guidance create a perfect storm where shortcuts appear easier than preparation.

The leadership vacuum at the Anti Doping Organization of Pakistan adds another layer of instability. Operating without a permanent chair while an acting chair retains authority and benefits without full accountability suggests institutional neglect. Without consistent leadership, long term policy loses direction. Without direction, every event becomes a separate struggle rather than part of a national anti doping vision.

The most concerning part is the perception that international instructions do not translate into local implementation. If guidelines from the World Anti Doping Agency are not properly executed, Pakistan risks isolation in international sport. Athletes may face distrust abroad not because they are guilty, but because their home system is considered unreliable.

A proper anti doping framework is not built on fear. Fear silences athletes instead of guiding them. It creates compliance without understanding. Education is supposed to be the first line of prevention. Awareness campaigns, athlete support, multilingual materials, workshops, medical advice and transparent hearings are not luxuries. They are standard requirements in modern sports.

The absence of trust is visible in the tone of athletes speaking about the system. They are not questioning strict rules. They are questioning inconsistent and unclear methods. They are not asking for leniency. They are asking for fairness. They are not afraid of testing. They are afraid of how the testing is conducted and how the results will be handled.

Fair play cannot co exist with selective justice. A system monitoring athletes should not be immune to monitoring itself. Accountability must flow in every direction. Rules should apply to coaches, officials, administrators and medical staff as firmly as they apply to players. If a coach instructs doping, the coach is equally responsible. If an organization mishandles doping cases, the organization is accountable.

At this moment, the most productive step is not to deny the problems or silence the critics. It is to admit, evaluate and rebuild. A functioning appeal structure must be created with independent representation. Testing officers should hold verified training and certification. Athletes should be educated regularly regarding banned substances, supplements and risks of imitation medications. Transparent auditing is necessary to determine whether testing selection is informed by data or influenced by hierarchy.

Pakistan produces committed and hardworking athletes despite limited facilities, financial struggle, and administrative obstacles. They deserve a playing field where their sweat has value and their honesty has protection. If the anti doping system continues in its current condition, the cost will be paid by athletes who did nothing wrong, while those misusing the system will remain untouched.

The crisis is not about science or policy. It is about trust. Trust once broken is difficult to rebuild. The responsibility lies with institutions to show that rules are not weapons but safeguards. Until transparency becomes visible, education becomes consistent, appeals become accessible and testing becomes equal, the question will remain unanswered. Who is protecting the player? The system, or the system from the player?

#AntiDopingCrisis  #SportsIntegrity  #AthletesRights  #FairPlayNotFoulPlay  #TransparencyInSports #CleanSportsMovement  #StopDopingAbuse  #ProtectOurAthletes  #SportsReformsNow #AccountabilityInSports #musarratullahjan #kikxnowdigitalcreator #kikxnow