Newsdesk - Japan PM Thanks Blatter; FIFA Medical Chief Warns Against Supplements
September 5, 2012
Top FIFA Doctor Warns Against Supplements
FIFA’s chief medical officer says it’s “alarming” how many footballers are taking food supplements, especially at the youth level.
Jiri Dvorak (Getty)
According to Jiri Dvorak, data collected since 2008 shows that roughly 35 percent of all players are regularly adding them to their diet, including almost half of top U-17 and U-20 players.
What’s worse, says the Czech professor, these young athletes don’t know what they’re putting in their bodies and don’t bother asking anyone for guidance.
“They just take it and believe it will improve their performance,” Dvorak tells FIFA.com.
“For me as a sports physician this is not only surprising, it is alarming!”
According to him, a well-balanced diet provides the human body with plenty of nutrients for peak performance.
Plus, he says, the use of supplements, many of which contain prohibited substances such as anabolic steroids, opens up the possibility of positive drug tests.
“Therefore, FIFA has issued a serious warning to football players not to take any food supplements that have not been passed by national drug and food administrations,” Dvorak declares.
Japan PM Thanks FIFA for Support
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda thanks FIFA president Sepp Blatter for the support of world football’s governing body in the wake of the March 11, 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.
Sepp Blatter with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda
“To host the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup gave hope and courage in the various venues where the competition was held,” Noda told the Swiss as he arrived in Tokyo ahead of Saturday’s final between USA and Germany.
“Unfortunately, Japan didn’t make it to the final, but it has still been important to help aid the recovery of the Japanese people,” the PM added.
“It is important for Japan to continue to host international events, and Tokyo is currently bidding to host the Olympic Games in 2020.”
Six matches during the three-week tournament were staged in Miyagi Prefecture, an especially hard hit area last year.
"I’m happy that Miyagi was used as a venue, with the government and Japan Football Association putting a lot of effort and energy into rebuilding the affected area,” Blatter told Noda on Wednesday, according to FIFA.com.
“Football connects people and it was good that they could be unified around football.”
Former AFC President, 88
Former FIFA vice president Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah is being remembered as a Malaysian sports icon and hero to the Asian Football Confederation.
Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah (AFC)
The longtime football administrator and International Olympic Committee member died Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur at the age of 88.
"it's a very sad day for Asian football as we have lost one of our biggest heroes," AFC acting president Zhang Jilong said in a statement.
"Tan Sri Hamzah was a visionary football leader who played a major role in shaping the confederation's future. It was during his presidency this confederation learnt to embrace ambitious plans to define the future of the game in the continent.”
Abu Samah served as president of the Football Association of Malaysia from 1976 until 1983, as president of AFC from 1978 until 1994 and as a VP of FIFA from 1982 to 1990.
New FA Boss for Ukraine
Anatoliy Konkov is the new president of the Football Federation of Ukraine.
Anatoliy Konkov (UEFA)
The former FC Shakhtar Donetsk and USSR midfielder was elected Monday in Kiev at the FFU’s XIV Congress after Grigoriy Surkis chose not to stand for a fourth four-year term following the success of the recent Euro 2012 championships co-hosted with Poland.
"During my reign as FFU president, I see my main task not only in continuing the activity of my predecessors, but in producing new ideas which could benefit Ukrainian football's future," Konkov, 62, was quoted by UEFA.com.
"The FFU's priority is to ensure the revival of grassroots football. The FFU will continue to support FIFA and UEFA initiatives aimed at the future development of football."
By INSIDER's Matthew Grayson
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