Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), gave an assurance Friday that the 251 athletes who will compete in 25th Laos Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos will be absolutely dope-free.

Cojuangco, together with other POC officials, told all coaches and medical staffs to brief their athletes on which drugs that can and can’t be used before and during the regional meet, so that to avoid another incident that happened in the 2005 SEA Games.

Esther Marie Singson was stripped of her gold medal in tae kwon do after he was tested positive for using diuretics, which is banned in the biennial meet.

“Our medical commission has looked into that aspect. We must be sure that the drugs taken by our athletes or any other substance will not lead to something like that [doping],” said Cojuangco, referring to that incident.

Athletes who won gold medals in their respective events are required to undergo doping tests. The organizers of the SEA Games also conduct random drug tests on all competing athletes. A medical screening will be held starting next week to ensure that all athletes are in their best shape.

Cojuangco also revealed that the Olympic body has received more financial contributions to cover the P6.86 million needed to fund the extra 199 delegates to Laos, including the 98 athletes, who will not be supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The Sports commission earlier said the government will only support 153 athletes—the gold and silver medalists of previous SEA Games—leaving the POC to look for sponsors to bankroll the additional number of delegates they want to send to Laos.

The Olympic committee received almost P2 million from the Philippine Construction Association Inc. last week. On Thursday, Cojuangco announced he received P700,000 from his nephew, Liberal Party standard bearer, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd and his runningmate Sen. Mar Roxas.

Team Philippines will try to surpass its 42-gold, 92-silver and 96-bronze medal performance and sixth place finish in the last SEA Games held in Thailand two years ago.

JOSEF T. RAMOS