Doping is still a costly lesson
At this time, former athlete of the Vietnam National Athletics Team, Khuat Phuong Anh is practicing professionally towards the opportunity to participate in the X-2026 National Sports Games. After 4 years, she has the opportunity to return to this competition. 4 years ago, Khuat Phuong Anh was 1 of 5 Vietnamese athletes who were involved in doping at the 31st SEA Games held in 2022.
Therefore, she was banned from participating in the IX-2022 National Sports Games. Similarly, Khuat Phuong Anh is the Vietnamese athletics athlete, Vu Thi Ngoc Ha (high jump). She was also not allowed to compete in the IX-2022 National Sports Games due to a doping ban.
The conclusion about the cases of Vietnamese sports involved in doping at SEA Games 31 was drawn that it was due to accidentally using functional foods without careful inspection. Therefore, the samples of the 5 players tested positive for doping. Although it was just accidental, doping exposure has been concluded.
When involved in doping bans, the athlete's spirit is definitely affected. But from here, I and the athletes who encountered doping incidents have become more mature," former player Khuat Phuong Anh once said.
For Vu Thi Ngoc Ha, she believes her return to the X-2026 National Sports Games will be most effective.
“I was absent from the National Sports Games 4 years ago. Now, I am training to maintain my form and am very much looking forward to achieving the right results at the X-2026 National Sports Games. Competing at the National Sports Games brings many emotions to athletes,” Vu Thi Ngoc Ha expressed when returning to training after the Tet holiday.
The national sports festival takes place with a 4-year cycle/time. If athletes miss their participation, they will have to wait 4 years to have the opportunity to participate again. After ending her doping ban, Vu Thi Ngoc Ha successively participated in the 2024 and 2025 National Athletics Championships and she maintained her expertise in the top group in the women's long jump and triple jump events. At SEA Games 33, Vu Thi Ngoc Ha won a Bronze medal in the women's triple jump event (achievement: 13m68).
Tightening doping control
The 2026 Tien Phong Newspaper National Marathon Championship will be the first competition program of the X-2026 National Sports Games.The two events marathon - 42km men's, marathon - 42km women's are in the plan to take doping test samples for participating athletes.
"Taking doping test samples for athletes competing in marathon - 42km at the tournament is mandatory.This is specifically regulated, because this is an event of the X-2026 National Sports Games program.However, the sampling will be random and it is not necessary that the medal-winning athlete will be included in the test list," General Secretary of the Vietnam Athletics Federation - Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung shared.
This year, the X-2026 National Sports Games will be held from November 20 to December 12. The entire Games will compete in 47 sports, with 973 events.
From March 2026, the Vietnam Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) will implement communication, education, and anti-doping work before competition for athletes. Anti-doping courses are implemented by VADA in accordance with the regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Athletes must attend courses organized by VADA and need to complete a anti-doping certificate to be eligible to participate in the X-2026 National Sports Games.
Representatives of VADA once said that Vietnamese sports or countries in the region and in Asia all comply with strict doping prevention and control regulations issued by WADA.
