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13 April 2023 | Story André Damons
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Since 2014, in April of every year, the anti-doping community worldwide comes together to celebrate Play True Day – a day that is dedicated to Clean Sport and raising awareness among athletes, the sporting public and others, of the importance of preventing doping.

The South African Doping Control Laboratory (SADoCoL), a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited service laboratory on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS), will take part in celebrating international Play True Day on 14 April.

SADoCoL is the only fully WADA-accredited laboratory that performs analysis for the anti-doping community in Africa. 

Every April since 2014  the anti-doping community worldwide comes together to celebrate Play True Day – a day that is dedicated to Clean Sport and raising awareness among athletes, the sporting public and others, of the importance of preventing doping.

Basis for the anti-doping community

Hanno du Preez, SADoCoL Director, says for SADoCoL, the celebration of the Play True Day supplies acknowledgement to the scientists who work around the clock to ensure the anti-doping campaigns, by various stakeholders on the continent, are supported by excellent scientific analysis and research.

“It is a privilege for SADoCoL to have been an active participant in the global anti-doping process for four decades. SADoCoL celebrates international Play True Day with its partners and stakeholders, including the host, the UFS, and is proud to be part of this system of excellence. 

“The possibility for SADoCoL to be housed by the UFS is an excellent gateway to ensure proper research is conducted and provides a basis where students are also trained in the application of scientific skills in a very specialised focus area such as anti-doping. Since the inception of the Play True campaign, it has grown to an international renowned celebration ensuring that anti-doping education is enhanced and the sharing of knowledge concerning prohibited substances and the illegal use of these performance-enhancing drugs in sport, is reiterated.”

The Play True campaign provides the basis for the anti-doping community to ensure that clean sport is commemorated and achieved and that the results of athlete participation are true and fair. Not only does this campaign ensure Clean Sport, but  also enhances the profile of a nation’s sporting community, when the athletes support the Clean Sport campaign and ensure that participation is fair and clean.

Commemorates efforts of the anti-doping partners

Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, says the university is celebrating with its partners in  international Play True Day. This day commemorates the efforts of the anti-doping partners globally to ensure that clean competition prevails in all sports. Further, it enhances the commitment of our athletes to the principle of Clean Sport by taking part in this campaign. 

“The celebration is of importance to the UFS as it houses one of 30 globally accredited laboratories conducting the testing of athlete samples. SADoCoL, housed on the main campus of the UFS, has been in existence for almost 40 years and the importance of this laboratory commemorates the work which the UFS conducts as part of this important campaign.

With several national and international athletes representing the UFS, it is an important part of the community engagement and service provided by the UFS through the services of SADoCoL. The continuous efforts by the scientists of SADoCoL provide the opportunity for South African and African athletes to compete in the international arena, with the knowledge that it is conducted with a clear conscience and true to the principles of Clean Sport,” says Prof Petersen. 

 

Be true to yourself and compete on your own merit

Louzanne Coetzee, a UFS athlete who won silver and bronze medals at the Paralympic Games in 2021, says an organisation like WADA is important as it reminds athletes of the value of clean and fair sport. 

“As athletes we should strive to win on merit and not through doping, which is  the same as cheating. Sometimes people  make use of banned substances to win competitions, and this is unfair towards clean athletes. Doping can demotivate clean athletes, because they know they do not stand a chance against thosewho dope. 
“On this day, Play True Day 2023, my message is to be true to yourself and to compete on your own merit. Know that when you stand on a podium it is because of your own abilities, not drugs you took that allowed you to get there.”

Become part of this campaign and pledge your participation in clean sport and fair play!
#PlayTrue
#PlayTrueDay 
#OnePlayTrueTeam 
#UFS

News Archive

UFS hikers to Cape Town reflect on their journey
2014-05-26

 

For the four volunteers from the university who are currently on their way to the Cape on foot, every hour of every day is a victory.

It is three weeks since two employees from the University of the Free State (UFS), Adéle van Aswegen and Ntokozo Nkabinde, together with two other Bloemfontein residents, Nico Piedt and Ronel Warner, left Bloemfontein on fóót for the Cape, in order to highlight the problem of food insecurity among students.

On Sunday 18 May they crossed the halfway mark at Beaufort West and will conclude their journey on Tuesday 3 June in Cape Town.

This is what the hikers have to say after three weeks on the road:

Adéle van Aswegen
It isn’t only a physical journey, but rather an emotional journey you undertake. You learn what it means to be truly thankful for basic things like clothes, a place to sleep and food.

Nico Piedt
I know what it feels like to survive on only a glass of water in your stomach – a cup of weak tea if you’re lucky – for the whole day. If I can help (through the hike) to give someone a better chance in life, then it is worthwhile.

Ronel Warner
You think and grow simultaneously. As you plan every stride ahead of you, you also plan your life ahead.

Ntokozo Nkabinde
You don’t walk for yourself. You undertake this journey, maybe because you want to help someone, but this journey is actually in honour of something bigger and you just have to endure.”

These boots are made for walking ... to Cape Town (Article of 02 May 2014)
“Aren’t auntie and them hungry yet?” Country folk worried about NSH hikers (15 May 2014)

Daily updates:
(You can also follow us on @UFSweb for daily tweets)

Day 33: 2 June 2014
13:40
20 km
Sunset Beach, Cape Town

Day 32: 1 June 2014
16:05
26 km
Mervyn and Sanet Wessels, Belville

Day 31: 31 May 2014
16:31
39.6 km
Rhonell and Gavin Julain, Paarl

Day 30: 30 May 2014
14:00
16 km
Monte Rosa, Rawsonville

Day 29: 29 May 2014
13:16
31 km
The Habit, Worcester

Day 28: 28 May 2014
11:00
22.4 km
Monte Roza, De doorns

Day 27: 27 May 2014
17:00
21.1 km
Karoo Hotel

Day 26: 26 May 2014
18:27
43.3 km
Tows river

Day 25: 25 May 2014
12:18
Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein

Day 24: 24 May 2014
16:30
42 km
Laingsburg Country Lodge

Day 23: 23 May 2014
17:32
41.8 km
Vergenoeg

Day 22: 22 May 2014
16:42
43 km
Assendelft Lodge and Bush Camp, Prins Albert

Day 21: 21 May 2014
15:09
42 km
Leeu Gamka Hotel

Day 20: 20 May 2014
13:39
20 km
Alida, Springfontein

Day 19: 19 May 2014
12:31
27.6 km
Teri Moja Game Lodge

Day 18: 18 May 2014
First rest day
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 17: 17 May 2014
19:30
62.3 km
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 16: 16 May 2014
13:00
14 km
Taaibochfontein

Day 15: 15 May 2014
16:03
32 km
Travalia, Three Sisters

Day 14: 14 May 2014
18:33
43 km
Joalani Guest Farm

Day 13: 13 May 2014
17:30
33 km
Die Rondawels

Day 12: 12 May 2014
16:49
40 km
Aandrus B&B in Richmond

Day 11: 11 May 2014
39 km
Wortelfontein (Magdel and Christiaan)

Day 10: 10 May 2014
15:44
34 km
Hanover Lodge

Day 9: 09 May 2014
40.8 km
Camping between Colesberg and Hanover

Day 8: 08 May 2014
15:25
33.7 km
Colesberg, The Lighthouse Guesthouse

Day 7: 07 May 2014
15:08
23 km
Orange River Lodge

Day 6: 06 May 2014
15:57
51.06 km
Gariep Forever Resort

Day 5: 05 May 2014
12:18
28 km
Rondefontein

Day 4: 04 May 2014
15:27
35 km
Trompsburg: Fox Den

Day 3: 03 May 2014
17:30
46.74 km
Edenburg Country Lodge (Hotel)

Day 2: 02 May 2014
11:44 am
15.3 km
Tom's Place

Day 1: 01 May 2014
32 km
Leeuwberg

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