11th Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) |18 November 2023
Three local athletes fail doping tests
- Disbursement of cash prizes for medal winners under way
It has been confirmed that three local medallists at the 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games held in Madagascar from August 25 to September 3 have failed their doping tests, while the disbursement of the cash prizes for medal winners are under way, and should be completed by the beginning of next week.
It was chief executive of the National Sports Council (NSC) Marc Arissol who made the announcements yesterday during a press conference to give the latest updates on the situation, following complaints from athletes regarding delays in receiving their rewards.
It is to note that through a private notice question in the National Assembly last month, leader of the opposition Sebastien Pillay was enquiring as to why the athletes were yet to receive their rewards despite having done all the formalities.
In her reply, the minister responsible for sports, Marie-Celine Zialor, said the monetary rewards for athletes who won medals at the Games was ready and was to be issued once anti-doping tests were in.
She explained that anti-doping test is the norm and an international requirement and that all sporting federations and associations were aware of this.
She added that the matter was also raised at various sporting meetings prior to the Games and letters were distributed to those concerned.
In total, Seychelles won 84 medals at the Games, including 11 gold, 33 silver and 40 bronze, finishing fourth overall.
A gold medal is worth R40,000, while a silver medal is valued at R25,000 and a bronze medal R12,000.
As for the child-minding money which is also being claimed, Mr Arissol said when he entered the office in January this year, he was not handed any policies in regards to the matter.
He explained that payments for pre-Games preparations, including training, were made on a hearsay basis, while the major issue is how to pay the athletes’ child-minding money for participation.
He said athletes were being paid R25 per hour, noting that it does not make sense to pay athletes the same amount for the whole duration of the Games.
Mr Arissol further explained that when they consulted payment record for the IOIG 2019, there was no record of payment for participation in regards to child-minding.
He said, following consultation with the ministry responsible for finance, they will put in place a policy for payment during the Games, agreeing to a fee of R7 per hour for 12 days of competition.
Roland Duval