BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados Sport Minister wants coaches to be tested for drug use to reiterate zero tolerance for the use of illegal substances in sports.Addressing a recent Sports and Drugs Seminar in Barbados, Minister Stephen Lashley promoted the message of “Lead by example and don’t do drugs”.
“Coaches should also be tested for drug use and those found to be abusing should not be coaching,” Lashley said, adding that this should also include persons found guilty of using marijuana.
“It was important for those of us who have the opportunity to reach people, especially the youth, whether it is through sports, mentorship or other activity, that we set good examples… Reach out to our youth, teach them to adopt good value systems, healthy lifestyles and engage them in meaningful activity.”
Minister Lashley said despite the fact that many countries had decriminalized marijuana, he hoped that Barbados would not jump on that “band wagon”.
“In my view, to do so, would not only be a betrayal of everything that we have been teaching our youth, but it would have devastating consequences as a whole,” he said.
Lashley noted that sports and creative activities such as dance and the arts were positive tools that could be used to divert young people from using illegal drugs.