• Society

PM Warns SEA Games Athletes Against Doping

• By Ken Gadaffi
• April 29, 2022 5:44 PM

Competitors represent dignity of the nation

PHNOM PENH – Prime Minister Hun Sen has bid farewell to delegates and athletes for the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam while urging them, as representatives of the nation, to avoid using any banned substance.

The Cambodian delegation and athletes met the PM at the Koh Pich Exhibition Hall on April 28 before they leave for the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi which run from May 12 to 23.

“I am very pleased today to bid farewell to up to 560 delegates and athletes, of which 45 are officials,” Hun Sen said.

“This is a high number compared to the SEA Games in the Philippines nearly 20 years ago. At that time, the number of athletes was less than the number of delegates.”

The Prime Minister told all players to work hard and added, “Avoid any violation of the rules of the game and avoid the use of prohibited tonics.

“This is the special point about the dignity of the country. If this happens, it will be bad for the image of our nation,” Hun Sen said.

For the 31st SEA Games next month, the Vietnamese hosts have arranged for 40 sports to compete in 526 disciplines. Cambodia will compete in 33 sports with 560 delegates, including 35 sports leaders and officials, 363 athletes, a total of 93 coaches and assistant coaches, 18 doctors, 15 arbitrators and 23 team leaders.

Hun Sen also instructed the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia to bring the Cambodian delegation to Vietnam on special charter flights.

Guidelines set by the Games organizers require athletes, referees and other sports officials to have certified negative RT-PCR test results within 72 hours or rapid antigen testing within 24 hours before entering Vietnam. Quarantine is not required.

Participants are also expected to arrive at least two days before their event.