Senate passes bill prohibiting athletes from doping

The senate has passed a bill seeking to prohibit athletes from consuming substances that will enhance their performance.

The bill was passed for a third reading after Kawu Sumaila, senator representing Kano South, presented a report.

President Bola Tinubu had asked the national assembly to pass the bill in May.

While presenting his report on Thursday, Sumaila said the bill would establish an anti-doping agency in compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code.

“Providing measures against doping in sports. As a sport-loving nation, it is imperative that we have a law against doping in sports,” the Kano senator said.

Tahir Monguno, a senator representing Borno North, said that by passing the bill, Nigeria would domesticate the treaty to combat doping among athletes.

“There is no need for much ado rather than pass this bill with the speed of light. Nigeria is already a signatory to the international convention against doping in sports,” he said.

“So the senate is only being called to domesticate this agreement.”

For his part, Simon Lalong, a senator representing Plateau South, said the youth must be discouraged from doping.

“I recall that we were going to the Olympics, but our star athlete who was going to get a gold medal was accused of doping, though she was cleared,” he said.

“We must encourage our youths against drugs.”

Thereafter, clauses of the bill were considered and passed.

In 2022, the federal government launched the National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) board.

Three top Nigerian athletes are currently banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) due to doping charges.

Blessing Okagbare was handed a 10-year ban in 2022, while Divine Oduduru got a six-year ban in 2023.

Grace Nwokocha was given a three-year ban for using prohibited substances.