Clean Sport Weekly
Insights by Nima Gyeltshen

Athletes: Your Greatest Strength… and Possibly, Your Biggest Risk

(Yes, really. And here’s why.)

Let’s face it—athletes are the heartbeat of every sport organization.
They’re the ones who shine on the podium, break records, bring home medals, and make entire nations proud. They’re not just competitors; they’re role models, influencers, and in many ways, walking billboards for their teams and countries.

As a National Sports Organization, you probably pour your heart, soul—and a lot of funding—into nurturing them. Coaching, nutrition, physiotherapy, mental health support, travel, gear… the list goes on.

But here’s something that’s often not talked about enough:
That same athlete who brings you glory can also become your biggest liability.

Surprised? Let’s talk.

When Things Go Wrong—And They Can

Sometimes, it’s not even about cheating.
Sometimes it’s a supplement they didn’t know was contaminated.
Sometimes it’s a medicine they took for a cold.
Sometimes, they just didn’t know the rules.

But when an athlete violates anti-doping rules—knowingly or unknowingly—the consequences hit everyone involved. And hard.

Here’s what you’re risking:

• Damage to the athlete’s health
• Sudden bans from competitions
• Disruption in team performance and morale
• Loss of sponsorships and public trust
• Wasted investment in years of training and development
• A damaged reputation—not just for the athlete, but your entire organization
• Harm to the very spirit and integrity of sport

And let’s not forget—the headlines. Once your athlete is caught, the whole world knows. Reputations built over years can be destroyed in a single moment.

So What Can You Do? Be Proactive. Be Smart. Be Educated.

It’s not enough to build strong athletes anymore.
You need to build smart, responsible, and aware athletes. That’s where anti-doping education comes in.

Here’s where to start:

• Talk about clean sport—not just once, but often.
• Make anti-doping education a part of your regular training cycle.
• Keep yourself and your team updated with the Bhutan Anti-Doping Rules 2021.
• Don’t treat it as a side-topic. Make it central to your team strategy.

Because Here’s the Truth

An educated athlete isn’t just less likely to violate rules—they’re more likely to inspire trust, play fair, and become true ambassadors of the sport. And that’s exactly the kind of legacy we all want to build.

Let’s not wait for a scandal to shake us awake. Let’s build a culture where clean sport is the norm, not the exception. Let’s protect the athlete, the organization, and the future of sport.

Clean sport isn’t just a rulebook. It’s a mindset. Let’s champion it—together.