By Samuel Akpan Live in Abeokuta
Following Persecondnews’ report on Akwa-Ibom, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has vowed to crack down on states involved in doping.
The NSC warned that more states would be named and shamed for registering athletes who failed doping tests.
Bukola Olopade, the NSC Director-General, made this declaration on Tuesday while responding to questions from Persecondnews correspondent Samuel Akpan at the media centre of the 22nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta.
The questions concerned Akwa-Ibom’s reaction to the disqualification of an athlete not part of the state’s official delegation.
Olopade explained that three states – Bayelsa, Lagos, and Akwa-Ibom – had registered athletes who were found to have doping issues.
Bayelsa had three athletes, Lagos had two, and Akwa-Ibom had one.
According to Olopade, these states will be fined accordingly.
“We are a very responsible Commission, and there is evidence that three months ago, the anti-doping department had informed states of their athletes that were tainted,” he said.
The NSC DG reiterated that the era of cutting corners is over and that states must adhere to global best practices.
“The era of cutting corners is over, and I assure you that after our technical meeting today, we have decided that more states would be called out.
“We will not stop there; we will also impose fines on states that brought them, and if they don’t pay, for that particular sport they intend to compete, they will not participate,” Olopade said.
Olopade’s comments followed the Akwa Ibom State team secretary, Janet Bassey’s claim that Marcus Okon, the athlete who was axed for doping, was never part of the state’s delegation to the ongoing National Sports Festival.
Olopade, however, clarified that Akwa-Ibom had indeed registered the athlete.
“All the names we announced yesterday were extracted from names sent by the states, so if they don’t travel with that athlete, why did they register the athlete?” Olopade queried.
The NSC Chief warned that more states will be named and shamed for doping infractions.
“We are coming out with more names; we have discovered ten more, and we are going to name and shame the states.
“Enough of dirty sports gimmicks in Nigeria; we have to get it right,” Olopade declared.
The NSC’s stance on doping is clear, and states are expected to adhere to the rules to avoid sanctions.
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