Sporting bodies back vaping restrictions to protect young athletes

Six national sporting organisations have backed President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s announced restrictions on vaping products, calling the intervention an important step towards protecting young people and safeguarding athletes’ health and development.

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA); Guyana Cricket Board (GCB); Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA); Guyana Tennis Association (GTA); Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) and Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) expressed support in separate statements. They also urged parents, Coaches, teachers, businesses and community leaders to help discourage vaping among young people.
The organisations linked their support to concerns about addiction, physical fitness, and the growing appeal of vaping products among children and teenagers. They stressed that developing sporting talent must include protecting athletes’ physical and mental well-being.
According to the GAPLF, the announced import restrictions would allow exceptions for products specifically approved by the Minister of Health or the relevant tobacco control authorities. The Federation said the initiative seeks to control unregulated importation, sale and use while preserving approved medicinal and therapeutic applications.
In its statement dated October 18, the GCB described the intervention as timely, saying vaping had become a serious concern within the cricketing community locally and internationally.
The Board warned that the practice could undermine young players’ health, fitness, discipline and overall development. It said protecting athletes’ well-being was as important as improving their sporting abilities and encouraged parents, Coaches, teachers and community leaders to educate young people about the risks.
The GOA focused on the appeal of vaping products, noting that attractive packaging, flavours and promotion could encourage experimentation among young people who may not fully understand the consequences.
It also raised concerns about nicotine addiction, exposure to toxic substances, and the possibility that consumers may not know the contents or strength of the products they use. The Association highlighted potential effects on attention, learning, mood and impulse control, along with the emotional difficulties associated with addiction and withdrawal.
The GOA called for support for lawful enforcement, urged people to discourage the supply of vaping products to minors, and encouraged reports of suspected illegal importation or sales to the appropriate authorities. It added that sport and community engagement could help young people make informed, healthy choices.
The GTTA similarly urged compliance as the restrictions take effect and called on citizens to report suspected unlawful activity through the relevant authorities.
The Association said curiosity and peer influence could leave children vulnerable to harmful products. It highlighted concerns about nicotine addiction, harmful chemicals, and adolescent brain development, while stressing the need for prevention, education, and effective oversight.
Table tennis and other sports, the GTTA added, offer young people opportunities to develop confidence, discipline, friendships, and lasting healthy habits.
The GTA welcomed the proposed policies to prohibit the importation and sale of vaping products for recreational use. It said the intervention would help protect athletes, children, and the wider population.
In outlining its concerns, the tennis body cited potential harm to oxygen delivery, cardiovascular endurance and recovery after training, as well as concentration and sleep. It urged those responsible for sporting governance and development to support efforts to restrict access to vaping products.
The GBBFF described the announced import restrictions under the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01, as an important public health measure. It pointed to concerns about nicotine addiction, respiratory health, and vaping’s appeal among young people.
The Federation said physical fitness and public health were closely connected, adding that preventing harmful substance use was a shared national responsibility.
Meanwhile, the GAPLF praised the consultations which it said preceded the decision, involving parents, teachers, children, religious leaders and community representatives. The powerlifting body said protecting young people would help them reach their potential in sport, family life and society, and pledged support for follow-up initiatives.