Solomon Mutasa
The recent unfortunate events that transpired in Utah, United States, involving drug abuse by the national Under-20 side at the Junior World Rugby Trophy have baffled the nation.

Questions on how such a situation could occur while unattended by the sport’s authorities have continued to circulate.
Although the Zimbabwe Rugby Union officially declared only three players positive, foreign sources avow that there were more members of the team that were found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.

The rugby fraternity now anxiously awaits the results from the International Rugby Board investigations while the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) vowed last week that the matter will be dealt with very soon.
With the three names withheld, amid pundits’ claims that they are locally based and were nurtured at different famous rugby schools, it is a problem which can return to haunt headmasters.

The Young Sables have been participating at the event for the past three consecutive years after conquering the African continent and the IRB decided to conduct a random test this year. In 2005, at the Under-19 World Cup hosted by South Africa, several Zimbabwe players passed a doping test.
Once crowned the Team of the Year, the Young Sables were only surpassed by the senior team last year who went on to win the continental Africa Cup on a clean and healthy slate earlier this month in Tunisia.

Notable graduates into the Sables from the Under-20 sides in recent times include fly-half Lenience Tambwera, scrum-half Charles Jiji, wing Kudakwashe Chiwanza, hooker Brian Makamure and flanker Tatenda Karuru, a sign that the conveyor belt can produce real quality.
However, questions have risen as to how the youngsters are being managed either at their respective schools, clubs or universities with no signs of anti-doping measures seemingly in place.

“The problem is that a coach or teacher cannot follow a player on what he is up to, so there is a need for a core team specialising on anti-doping, but the issue will always come back to the financial aspect as funds are scarce these days for such activities,” said one rugby commentator.
One Zimbabwe’s veteran players, who has also played for all the junior national sides, indicated that the implication was a sad chapter in the sport which should not be overlooked.

“It really pains some of us, who have proudly represented the national team for a long time but the youngsters do not know how to conduct themselves on and off the field.

“It is a great opportunity to wear the green and white but these youngsters are spoiling the chances they get. This is a disgrace to the rugby community and something should be done,” he said.
The IRB has partnered the World Anti-Doping Agency over the years to drive the Keep Rugby Clean movement worldwide but the message might be falling on deaf

ears as players continuously use banned drugs.
The Young Sables returned home empty handed from their ill-fated trip to the US after losing to Japan, Georgia and Canada before claiming a face saving win past Russia.

Meanwhile, the senior women's rugby side, Pangolins, has been tirelessly training for two months now in preparation for the 2013 IRB Sevens World Cup qualifiers pencilled in for Morrocco in September.
Under the guidance of experienced sports ladies in Abigail Kawonza as head coach and Lucia Marisamhuka as assistant, who are all based at Old Hararians Sports

Club, the team has been slowly but surely building up as they played Zambia yesterday.
“The girls have been training very hard, week in and week out, and we hope to clinch the Moscow ticket in Morrocco come September. No chance for failure, is the team’s spirit right now and we know we are capable with the pool of determined ladies in our set up,” said Kawonza.