The project which was set to be launched at the start of the year is all set to begin with the books 'now in the printing stage' according to H E Sultan al Busaidi the OADC chairman.

'We have got the green light from the Ministry of Education. The 82-page bilingual book highlights the ill-effects of doping in sports and also creates awareness of its menace in society' said Busaidi at a press meet on Tuesday at the Oman Olympic Committee's (OOC) headquarters.

'The timeline for the launch of the book in the schools will be decided by the education ministry but what we do know is that it is in the printing stage' he added. The OADC chief spoke about the initiatives taken by the committee to fight doping in the country and said he was 'satisfied' with the progress made so far.

'We have managed to increase awareness among athletes coaches and officials. With students in schools now going to be taught [about doping awareness] as part of their curriculum I am certain we are on the right path' he said.

'Over the past year we have had conducted 150 random doping tests at major international and domestic events. This is a significant number and it underlines our commitment' he said. Busaidi was however reluctant to reveal much about the 150 tests and said that 'it was not possible for him to declare the results'.

However Muscat Daily has learnt through reliable sources that there have been a few positive cases but the verdicts will be announced by the concerned sports associations. Most of the tests were done on Omani athletes and swimmers it is learnt. Busaidi said the recent nomination of Oman to UNESCO committees and the selection of two anti-doping officials - Shuaib al Zadjali and Khalifa al Makhmari - for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are encouraging developments.

Zadjali who was present at the press meet has been nominated for the third successive Olympics since 2008 while for Makhmari it will be his first Games. Zadjali was also an official at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore in 2010.

Both Makhmari and Zadjali had also officiated at the successive Asian Games since the Doha Asiad in 2006. Busaidi who is also the chairman of the GCC and Yemen Regional Anti-Doping Organisation said the OADC conducts doping tests in coordination with the OOC sports associations and committees.

All sports associations and sports committees in Oman have been asked to have laws in compliant with the international anti-doping regulations and the OADC's regulations. Oman's nominations were made during the UNESCO Conference of Parties (CoP) to the International Convention against Doping in Sport at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris France in October.

During the meeting Oman was selected as a member of the Doping Research Committee. Besides Oman the committee includes Russia China Finland Mexico and a representative from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Oman was also nominated into the committee that funds countries for the elimination of doping in sport. Called SportFund for Elimination of Doping in Sport it has a budget of over US$3.4mn. The other members of the fund's approval committee are Finland Russia the Bahamas China and South Africa.