The Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, on Tuesday expressed concern about the way some sportsmen and women resort to the use of hard drugs to stimulate them to win honours.

He said such drugs only end up ruining their future and urged sportsmen to desist from the practice.

Mr Edumadze said this in a speech read for him at the opening of the fifth annual Central and Western regions inter -teacher training colleges sports festival' held at the Komenda training college.

Seven training colleges, Komenda, Fosu, Ola, Holychild, Wiawso, Enchi and SDA Asanta colleges, are competing in soccer, netball, volleyball, table tennis and athletics during the one week festival.

The minister observed that sports festivals, apart from building the mind and body, among others, also promote friendship, peaceful co-existence and good brotherliness.

He said it is in this regard that the government has channelled huge resources into the development of sports. He urged sportsmen to be serious with all sporting activities to justify the huge government investment in the sector.

Mr Edumadze reminded them of HIV/AIDS, saying since sports festivals also bring along with them socialization they should strive to engage in the "right type of socialization".

Mr John Dadzie, Principal of the Komenda training college in his welcome address, echoed the importance of sports to schools and called on the participants and officials to exhibit the highest sense of sportsmanship and fair play to ensure the success of the festival.

In an opening soccer match, the defending champions, Fosu Training College, beat the hosts, Komenda college 2-0. Both goals were scored in the second half.

In the 1,500 metre race, Gladys Arthur of Ola Training College came first with a record time of 5.39.95 followed by Alice Quayson of Holychild who ended at 5.44.94 and Irene Amoah of Fosu came third at 5.47.78.

In the men's race, Douglas Otuba of Komenda came first with a record time of 4.30.49, while Paul Dadzie and Leonard Amissah both of Fosu came second and third respectively with a time of 4.32.25 and 4.32.93.