Sports
AFN Tasked On Nigerian Athletes Drug Scandal
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has been urged to explore internal mechanisms in screening athletes before major competitions to protect the image of the country.
This was the view of some sports fans interviewed in Port Harcourt in the wake of the involvement of some athletes competiting at the ongoing Commonwealth games in drugs cheat.
Nigerian sprinter, Oludamola Osayomi had been stripped of the women’s 100 metres gold medal after her B sample confirmed a positive test for a banned stimulant Methylhexaneamine.nfd
Also, Samuel Okon, a finalist in the men’s 110m hurdles was suspended after refusing to have his “B” sample tested.
These incidents had cast a bad light on the Nigeria’s performances at the ongoing competition, where it had so far had outstanding performances.
Speaking to the Tidesports, a former athlete who had represented the state in the National Sports Festival, Dibo Alakiri said the AFN does not have the structures to checkmate drug cheats in the country.
According to him, Nigerian athletes are supposed to undergo stringent tests of ‘A’ and ‘B’ samples in line with the international anti-doping rules before competition, but that the case had been the reverse in Nigeria.
Besides, Alakiri said some of the coaches are to blame, because they recommend these drugs, which enhances performance, but without the knowledge of the athletes.
“Maybe an athlete might be having one pain or the other after training, they would then recommend certain drugs, which on the other hand enhances performances, but it is unknown to the athlete.
‘That is why some of the athletes are surprised when it is revealed to them that they are positive in the use of certain drugs, unknowingly that they are banned from by the world anti-doping body.
“My advise is that the AFN and other bodies responsible for mobilising athletes for major competitions should ensure that stringent mechanisms are put in place to forestall this kind of embarrassment to the country.
“We cannot continue to operate in this manner. I think the surgical operation is that is going on in our football should be extended to athletics and other sports”, he said.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.