Sports
Doping Poses Great Challenge For NIPOGA
The Chief Coach of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Frederick Yamala, has said that it would be very difficult to detect athletes using steroid during the forthcoming Nigeria Polytechnics Games (NIPOGA).
Yamala stated this in Lagos at the presentation of the institution’s athletes for the 17th NIPOGA, slated to hold at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede between yesterday and April 21.
Yamala explained that NIPOGA had not acquired the anti doping facilities with which to screen out such athletes, saying, the issue of doping “still remains a great challenge”.
“The Nigeria Universities Games and the West Africa Universities Games are already versed in the detection of athletes on steroid because they have the equipment to that effect.
“In NIPOGA, it remains a great challenge, because we are yet to acquire the equipment. It remains a great challenge because it has not been addressed.
“We are seriously looking into the issue and will soon overcome it. It is going to top our agenda at NIPOGA’s next stakeholders meeting,” the coach said.
He however promised that the organisers would do everything possible to curb the use of steroid by athletes at the Ede Games.
Yamala said that YABATECH would storm the Games with 119 athletes of 65 female and 54 male athletes, as well as 26 technical officials.
The coach said that the institution would feature in all events at the games.
Events lined up in the 17TH edition of NIPOGA are: athletics, tennis, table tennis, and chess.
Others he said were taekwondo, chess, basketball, football, judo, squash, badminton, scrabble, handball and volleyball.
Speaking earlier, the chairman, School Sports Committee, Samuel Adeakin, said that the institution was set to emerge the overall champions at the two week event.
Adeakin said that the institution intended to surpass its previous third placed position at the last Games held last year at Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, and reclaim its pride of place in NIPOGA events.
“Apart from the past three editions, we have always emerged as the overall champions at NIPOGA and we are returning to the top again this year”, he said.
“The only challenges we may have at the Games will be from the hosts and perhaps Kaduna Polytechnic.
“To win the Games, we are focusing more on individual events to team events, we are hopeful that individual events will fetch us more medals than team events,’’ he said.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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