In professional sports, coincidences are increasingly rare, as each individual has a clear role and a defined responsibility in the system. When things go awry, it typically prompts accountability.

This trend is evident globally; however, in Montenegrin sports, the response to accountability often appears to be silence.

Currently, this silence lingers within the Water Polo and Swimming Association of Montenegro, and this is not an isolated incident. It took nearly a week for journalists to unofficially discover that Aleksa Ukropin had received notification of a failed doping test conducted during preparations for the World Championship in Doha. The absence of response from VPSCG continues.

No response has been given, but will accountability be established? Beyond the 25-year-old water polo player, who is bound to face significant repercussions and miss the Paris Olympics, will anyone take the initiative to explain how an athlete could consume a banned inhalant without consulting the proper authorities? How could he neglect to inform or seek guidance from responsible professionals within the national team and Federation about the legality of his actions? Doping controls can occur at any time, day or night…

There are no coincidences in this scenario; it is evident that someone at VPSCG is not fulfilling their duties adequately (though the primary responsibility rests with the athlete himself). The occurrence of a doping case for the second time in two and a half years is notable.

Prior to Ukropin, Djuro Radovic, from the “inconvenient side,” faced consequences of a different nature—he was penalized for violating World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations and issued three penalties for failing to complete mandatory documentation.

It is crucial to note that neither Ukropin nor Radović purposely ingested a prohibited substance, yet it’s evident that both left-handed water polo players made critical errors during a pivotal time in their careers. VPSCG must be prepared for such scenarios and provide adequate education to their players. In short, they need to fulfill their responsibilities. The medical team’s role is as crucial as the tactical strategies devised by coaches and selectors, or the players’ contributions in the pool.

It seems almost incredulous that, in 2024, any athlete would take medication for a cold without consulting a physician or a physiotherapist from the national team, especially in the brief break between major tournaments.

In reputable federations, protocol dictates that during preparation for major competitions, every team member should contact someone from the medical staff at any hour to confirm whether the medication they intend to use is on the approved list. This is especially pertinent for cold medications, which might contain ephedrine, a substance that has been banned for decades.

Discussing Radović’s situation is unnecessary, as every athlete should be well-informed about the necessity of complying with WADA regulations. However, it is clear that neither Ukropin nor Radović received the preparation they needed for these eventualities. Consequently, the “sharks,” who have already slipped from the world water polo elite, will be deprived of one of their key players for the upcoming Olympics in Paris…

Ukropina is not the first nor will he be the last Montenegrin athlete to “fail” a doping test; however, his situation serves as a critical warning. This is reminiscent of Ivone Pavićević, who underwent laser intravenous therapy at her former club, Romanian Corona, without informing anyone from the Handball Association. She placed her trust in the club and ended up taking a 16-month hiatus.

Montenegro has an Anti-Doping Commission led by Dr. Olivera Prodanović. Perhaps this latest incident will prompt them to organize workshops or lectures tailored for elite athletes. We cannot afford to lose more of our limited talent…

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