The House of Representative has mandated its committee on Sports to investigate the immediate and remote cause of the failed doping test to forestall future occurrence
The House also called for investigation into the activities of the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development on failed doping test by Nigeria athletes at the Olympic games in Tokyo.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep Lawrence Ayeni, APC-Osun, on the floor of the House on Wednesday in Abuja.
He noted that the Nigeria delegation to the Olympic games fared well in terms of performance, thereby raising the country’s rating the in comity of Nations.
He decried the incident of July 20, where the Athletics Integrity unit of the International Association of Athletics Federations barred ten Nigerian athletes.
This he said included the highly-rated Blessing Okagbare, from the Tokyo Olympics for failing to meet requirements for out-of-competition drug testing.
He stated that the Athletics Integrity Unit alleged that Blessing Okagbare, who won the opening heat of the women’s 100m, had tested positive for human growth hormone.
He said that the allegation affirmed that the affected athletes failed to comply with the rules.
He added that countries deemed to be at high risk of doping were meant to undergo three no-notice out-of-competition tests in a 10 months’ period leading up to a major event.
He said inspite of the huge funds being made available yearly for the regulatory agencies in the sports sector, adequate efforts have not been made to get Nigeria into the category.
This category according to him is where they would be deemed to have made significant improvements in anti-doping tests.
The House therefore resolved to invite the Minister of Sports and Youth Development to brief the Committee on Sports.
This is on the level of Nigeria’s compliance with extant regulations set by the International Association of Athletics Federations, IAAF, and the independent anti-doping arm, Athletics Integrity Unit
The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to put necessary measures in place to ensure compliance with extant regulations at both local and international competitions.
NAN
