Ravena leads POC anti-doping seminar

Kiefer Ravena reduced to being a spectator in the PBA. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

In light of the suspension of PBA star Kiefer Ravena over banned substances, the Athletes’ Commission of the Philippine Olympic Committee will be hosting its first anti-doping seminar on July 6.

POC deputy secretary-general Karen Caballero said in the Philippine Sportwriters’ Association forum at Tapa King in Cubao on Tuesday that the seminar’s goal is to raise awareness on anti-doping measures to the athletes.

Those who will compete at the 2018 Asian Games at Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia are expected to participate in the seminar.

READ: Fellow athletes, coaches rally behind embattled Ravena

“Every year, the list of banned substances given by the World Anti-Doping Agency changes. While the coaches and the officials are the first line of defense, it is still the athletes who intake supplements in their bodies,” Caballero said in Filipino.

Caballero added she expects Ravena to grace the event to encourage his fellow athletes to be open about the subject.

“We are happy that Kiefer has reached out and is more than willing to take part of this campaign,” Caballero said.

The former Blue Eagle was found positive of Dimethylbutylamine, Methylhexaneamine, and Higenamine, substances included in the WADA ban list.

READ: Remorseful Kiefer out of PBA for 18 months 

The 24-year-old was slapped with an 18-month suspension from FIBA that would last from February 25, 2018 to August 24, 2019. He was also banned from suiting up for the NLEX Road Warriors during the said period.

The seminar will take place on the Philippine Sports Commission audio-visual room at Philsports Arena in Pasig City at 8 a.m.

Dr. Jose Raul Canlas of St. Luke’s Medical Center’s orthopedic department and WADA’s anti-doping unit head Dr. Alex Pineda will be the resource speakers of the event. Ivan Ruiz L. Suing