Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula has declared his firm support for 'I Play Fair' day, to be held on 18 June, and expressed the wish that all South African sportspeople will take the pledge to be drug-free.
The Minister addressed a joint press conference with the South Africa Institute for Drug-free Sport (SAIDS), thus showing the Ministry and Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA's) support for the work of the Institute and its campaigns.
'We support the Institute for Drug-Free Sport’s aim to aggressively tackle doping in sport and spread the message of ethics, fair-play and anti-doping in sport and with this initiative and create a culture of anti-doping in sport,' the Minister said in his statement.
He said it was his intention to take the anti-doping message to all corners of the country, and that it should be simple for all to understand.
SAIDS' campaign comes in the wake of alarming increases in the use of drugs in South African sport, and reports of drug abuse in schools.
The Minister said that SRSA will be offering its platforms for SAIDS to educate sportspeople on ethics in sport.
As part of the campaign, the Minister and Deputy Minister will be leading processions at rugby matches in Pretoria and Bloemfontein, providing further visibility to the campaign.
Source: Sport and Recreation South Africa
Minister endorses 'I Play Fair' campaign
