The Lagos State Di
rector of Sports, Deji Tinubu, says the state government is planning to equip a medical department that will engage in detecting athletes involved in performance-enhancing drugs.
Tinubu told newsmen in Lagos yesterday that it was important to reduce to the barest minimum, the use of such drugs by athletes.
The Lagos state official was speaking against the backdrop of the suspension of Russia from World Athletics by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) following the indictment of Russian officials and athletes over doping allegations.
“We have a medical department, which we hope in time, will graduate to some form of establishment that can detect athletes involved in the use of illegal drugs.
“I cannot put a date to it, but in time, (we will have that.)
“But in between, what they will do is to continue to monitor and continue to educate (the athletes).
“The athletes may get caught in the end and everything they have done all their lives just goes to rubbish.
“If they want to do that, then it is all up to them.
“So, obviously we have athletes that the relevant departments have continued to counsel.
“It is not a secret that it is wrong, that it is illegal and it is also not a secret that at one point in time athletes will be caught.
“It is either they harm yourself or they will be caught by the authorities – one of the two. Say ‘NO’ to drugs, and they can live without drugs.“
Tinubu also said that the state government would roll out its sports programme for 2016 in the first week of January.
“Hopefully, the first week of January in 2016, we are going to roll out our programmes; we are still working on that.
“As we are rolling out programmes, we are also rolling out dates because what the state is trying to do is to create a sport calendar whereby you will know, in advance, what competition is coming up and where it will take place.’’