Eko 2012: Dope Tests To Be Conducted Overseas

The Medical Sub-committee of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos has said that dope test on athletes would be conducted overseas.

Chief Medical Officer with the sub-committee, Dr Akin Judge, told newsmen in Lagos that the tests had to go abroad because there had not been approval to do it in Nigeria.

“Equipping the laboratory or building the facility is not the problem because we have it but getting the international recognition to carry out the test is,’’ Judge said.

He said that the Main Organising Committee (MOC) in conjunction with National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), an affiliate of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), was in charge of tests

He disclosed that NADA at the instance of the MOC last week conducted screening for medical personnel that would take the athlete’s blood samples before and during the event.

The medical officer, who declined to disclose the country where the tests would be carried out, said the host state would only provide medical facilities.

He noted that athletes had been briefed through their states Directors of Sports on the dangers of being involved with performance enhancing substances.

Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Yaba and the National Stadium, Surulere have standard doping control facilities.