Doha, December 23 (QNA) - Doha will host two courses on refereeing and anti-doping on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the three combined championships: the 10th edition of the Qatar International Weightlifting Cup 2025, alongside the Arab Weightlifting Championship for seniors, youth and juniors, as well as the West Asian Weightlifting Championship, which are organized by the Qatar Weightlifting Federation with the participation of a group of the world's major male and female weightlifters.

The refereeing course is held under the supervision of the International Weightlifting Federation, in coordination with the Qatari and Asian Federations. It aims to raise the efficiency of referees and update their knowledge of the latest internationally approved laws and technical amendments, which contributes to unifying refereeing mechanisms and ensuring the accurate application of regulations during official competitions, especially in light of the great momentum witnessed in the current championships and the diversity of participants from different countries.

The course includes theoretical lectures and practical applications, focusing on the finer aspects of refereeing, the mechanism for evaluating calls, and dealing with different refereeing cases, which enhances the readiness of referees to manage tournaments according to the highest standards approved by the International Federation and the Asian Federation.

As for the educational course on anti-doping, it aims to raise awareness among athletes, technical and administrative staff about the importance of adhering to anti-doping regulations, protecting the health of players, and ensuring the integrity of competitions.

The course focuses on familiarizing participants with the prohibited substances included in the International Anti-Doping Agency's lists, as well as explaining the testing mechanisms that take place during official tournaments, and explaining the rights and duties of athletes during testing processes.

The course also addresses the importance of individual responsibility for athletes in avoiding the use of any prohibited substances, whether intentionally or unintentionally, while emphasizing the need to scrutinize the components of medicines and nutritional supplements used to avoid risks. The course also reviews the negative health effects resulting from doping, and the legal and sporting penalties that may be imposed on violators, such as suspension from participation in competitions, and deprivation of titles and results achieved by illegal means.

The course highlights the ethical aspect of sports, as the use of performance-enhancing drugs affects the principle of equal opportunities and sportsmanship among competitors.

The course activities include theoretical lectures and dialogue sessions that allow participants to ask questions and discuss all aspects related to anti-doping, which helps to enhance a comprehensive understanding of the systems and laws in force internationally. (QNA)