Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation is one of the best and most disciplined federations in working with Azerbaijan National Anti-Doping Agency (AMADA), director of Azerbaijan National Anti-Doping Agency Shafag Huseynli said, speaking with the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza on the sidelines of the briefing. She stressed that the agency team "gets a great deal of pleasure in working with gymnasts."
Huseynli noted that the year was quite intense for AMADA. "In a short time we were recognized all over the world, we held several events of international scale. Thus, in the current season, Baku hosted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Executive Committee Meeting, which was held at a high level," she said.
If last year 402 tests were conducted in various sports, this year representatives of 21 sports were tested 543 times. The director of AMADA noted that as a result, there were 35 positive doping tests, with fighting, taekwondo and cycling being at risk.
Among violations, 25% of athletes are minors, which is alarming, according to Shafag Huseynli. She added that anabolics are most frequently used by violators.
The director of AMADA said that the use of doping is becoming a social problem, as they have begun to use drugs prohibited in sports in fitness centers. "What we're seeing is fitness trainers sell anabolic steroids and other illicit drugs to athletes aged 15-16 years. We officially declare that we will fight this phenomenon, and doping sellers will be brought to justice," she concluded.
