Few days ago, another doping scandal affecting a Nigerian Athlete was announced by the Athletic Integrity Unit (followed with a ban immediately. This time around, it was quarter miler, Imaobong Nse Uko whose whereabouts was unknown at the time her attention was needed. It was devastating and unbelievable which prompted stakeholders to begin to question the rationale behind anti-doping violations by our athletes.
Is it quest for fame or economic pressure that pushes a number of them to fall prey? Do we attribute it to systemic flaw or over-sight on the part of those saddled with the management of the game or failure to enforce the rules guiding track and field? These are questions begging for answers for as at the last count, over 50 athletes from this country have run afoul of doping regulations.
Doping is a global issue but Nigeria’s own is becoming worrisome. It has a troubled history with it.
Chioma Ajunwa, the first Nigerian to win gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and the first black African woman to win gold medal in a field event failed to pass a drug test in 1992 and got banned for four years. She once advised Nigerians to take the issue of doping serious as it has eaten deep into the lives of our athletes. “Today in Nigeria, drugs are gradually becoming a norm. Almost everybody is now doing it” . She should know better as a police woman and somebody who rose to the peak of her career.
In Abeokuta, at the last National Sports Festival which Delta State won few months ago, over 20 athletes tested positives for banned substances? The affected athletes were expelled from the games while their states were fined. Such is the magnitude of the crime that the youths too have bought into it. Even in football, the captain of Enyimba Football Club, Aba, Oladipo Augustine was banned for a year for using Predrisotone and Predrisone, an anti- inflammatory drug.
Doping is the intake of banned performance-enhancing drugs in competitive games. Why is doping therefore prevalence among the Nigerian athletes.
A critical look at those that have been banned before that of Imaobong Nse Uko would shock Nigerians.
Apart from Blessing Okagbare who was sent packing from Tokyo Olympics when she failed drugs test which earned her a ban of 10 years, others that have been banned include Mary Onyali, (even though she denied) for taking ephedrine in 1996. Tosin Adeleye at the age of 16 tested positive for the anabolic metenelone.
at the National Sports Festival in Lagos in 2012 and was banned for 2 years. In 2016, this same girl was caught and banned for 8 years. The rest is history. In 2009, Folashade Abughan was disqualified and banned after testing positive for testosterone pronotmone in her “A” sample.
It was the turn of Chinazom Doris Amadi, a long jumper in 2015. She was stripped of her gold medal won at the African games and banned for four years. Chika Joy Amahala, a weight lifter was not so lucky as she too tested positive to methanol one and banned till 2027 by the International Weightlifting Federation. In 2014, she failed drug test during the Commonwealth games.
The list of Nigerians who have been affected also include Innocent Arinze, the sprinter together with Francis Obikwelu, Daniel Effiong and Deji Aliu won bronze in 4 =100 meters relay at the 1999 World Championship in athletics. However, the team was later disqualified in August 2005 because he failed drug test far back 1999.
The list is endless with Olutoyin Augustus, a 100 meters hurdler banned at the Berlin World Championship while Clement Chukwu tested positive in 1992.Effiong Daniel got 4 years ban after testing positive while Christy Ekpukho received a suspension in 2009 with Davison and Osmond Ezinwa, two brothers getting banned after testing positive twice.
Cecilia Francis, Mercy Genesis, Samson Idiata, Ivory Nwokorie, Gloria Nwosu, Deborah Odeyemi and Amaka Ogiegbunam complete the set who got banned between 2009 and 2019. Less I forget, Charity Opara, Oludamola Osayomi, Lawretta Ozoh, Blessed Udoh , Hlory Onome and Ajayi Odeyemi complete the list among others not mentioned here.
What is the implication of this to our athletes and how do we curtail the spread of drugs among our athletes? The Chairman of the National Sports Commision, Shehu Dikko believes that the recently signed World Anti-Doping Bill into Nigerian law will decisively tackle doping issues. The act establishes the Nigerian Anti-Doping centre, making the country the second in Africa to have such a laboratory. It is expected to conduct at least 1,500 tests annually.
Beyond this, it is imperative for the National Sports Commission together with Athletic Federation of Nigeria and all other relevant agencies to embark on a campaign to promote athlete education and create awareness among Nigerians. The campaign should also go to various schools to enlighten them on the danger that lies ahead of doping. The athletes should be told in playing language the implication of getting involved in banned drugs and stiffer punishment should be meted out to anyone caught inform of jail term.
