FG inaugurates national anti-doping board

The federal government has launched the National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) board.

The anti-doping board is aimed to foster clean sports and ensure that Nigeria remains compliant with the world anti-doping treaty and the UNESCO convention against doping in sports.

In a statement on Friday, Sunday Dare, minister of youth and sports development, who inaugurated the board in his office in Abuja, said the anti-doping has become a technical and integral part of sports.

The minister added that it scrutinises the integrity and credibility of the sports of any nation before the international community.

“Nigerian sports has overtime borne the unfortunate scars of anti-doping with the positive drug test results of some athletes and as such has put in place the required structure and policy that would enable the country to administer anti-doping in line with the international standards and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code requirements,” he said.

“This development has earned Nigeria commendation from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for her anti-doping drive, increased testings of athletes and the deliberate efforts being made to compete fairly and cleanly.”

Dare said the NADO board comprised eminent personalities selected on technical expertise and experience in sports and anti-doping-related matters.

Kenneth Anugweje, chairman of the board, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the offer of the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“We would bring our wealth of experience and expertise to bear in preserving the integrity of the organisation by committing to a high standard of responsibility and objectivity in line with the WADA code,” Anugweje said.

John Oluwafemi Ayorinde, Mainasara Illo, Omolewa Abike Akinba, Olusegun Akinlotan, Emmanuel Omuku, and Godfrey Odigie are members of the board which has Fadeke Fadeyibi as secretary/ CEO.