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On November 23, the members of the RA NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport met with the representatives of the National Olympic Sports Federations. Those responsible from the Ministries of Education, Science, Culture, Sport and of Defense, Police took part in the work discussion.

The Chair of the Committee Sisak Gabrielyan has highlighted the meeting with the representatives of sports world, noting that during the last one year full of ordeals, it is not the first time that the Armenian athletes have brought moments of joy and happiness to the Armenians. The aim of the meeting, according to him, is to touch upon the problems which exist in the field of sport, and it will be possible to resolve them by law.

As the Chair of the Committee has informed, there are many problems in the sphere: they relate to match-fixing, betting, the issues on athletes’ compulsory military service etc.

The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Karen Giloyan added to Sisak Gabielyan’s words, underlining that the problems are numerous, and they need an urgent regulation. According to him, it is important to resolve the problems referring to the compulsory military service, to license people who carry out activities in the field of sport. The Deputy Minister particularly assessed the situation in the field of Eastern martial arts and fitness clubs as shameful and abandoned. Today, anyone can open a sports school and cause great damage to children’s health, the Deputy Minister stated. According to both his and other participants’ assessment, the coaches of sports schools or sports clubs should have professional qualifications.

The Rector of the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture Davit Khitaryan proposed to ban the free sale of steroids in Armenia. They are freely sold in all fitness clubs: Davit Khitaryan expressed concern. According to him, even the minors buy them and damage their health.

Attention should also be paid to the procedure for selecting directors of sports schools. Here there are problems too, he clarified.

The representatives of the National Olympic Sports Federations presented their concerns to the deputies, suggesting them to regulate them by law. According to the representatives of sports world, there is a necessity to make changes both in the laws on sport, and the RA Criminal Code.

Regarding the issue of compulsory military service for athletes, it was mentioned that the Government came up with a legislative initiative, which will try to resolve that issue.

Summarizing the meeting, on behalf of the Committee, the Committee Chair Sisak Gabrielyan expressed readiness to refer to the raised issues with discussions.