Sports
‘Education, Panacea To Athletes’ Doping’
The Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, has said that education is the panacea to doping among athletes.
Adedoja spoke at the Forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), at the weekend in Abuja.
He said, however, that the NSC had been collaborating with various agencies to change the situation for the better, adding that they would come out with rules and regulations.
“We have a committee against doping in Nigeria, and Nigeria is also a member of the World Association Against Doping (WADA) that is in charge of regulating and monitoring athletes and officials that in one way or the other participate in doping in sports.
“We are also collaborating with various agents of government like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Immigration Service, and Nigerian police to ensure it stops, but basically what is most important is the issue of education,’’ Adedoja said.
He further said that the NSC had set up an education enlightenment committee and engaged some anti-doping staff who were currently in various Camps.
According to him, the athletes do not know who they are and could not tell whether they were with them in camp or in the rooms or clubs.
”I am sure that this will not only eliminate the issue of doping, but will completely eliminate it at the sporting arena,’’ Adedoja said.
The minister noted that doping, drug use and abuse in sports were international phenomena and that Nigeria was not an exception.
”We cannot have any excuse for any Nigerian to take part in it because apart from it robbing Nigeria of its place in international sports, it is not good for athletes themselves because it creates a lot of psychological problems for them,’’ he said.
It will be recalled that at the last Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, Nigeria won12 gold medals but later lost one when Damola Osayomi was stripped of her medal following allegations of doping.
At the World Championships in Berlin 2009, four Nigerian athletes tested positive to banned drugs.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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