AFN Announces Seven-Man Medical/Anti-Doping Commission
Following the recent doping scandals that have dogged Team Nigeria at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has announced a seven-man Medical and Anti-Doping Commission headed by Professor Ken Anugweje.
AFN President, Tonobock Okowa, made the announcement on the sidelines in Tokyo. The Federation said the announcement of the members of the new commission became necessary as the AFN is determined to ensure Nigeria is removed from the unwanted categorisation as one of World Athletics member federations deemed to have the highest doping risk, and considered as a threat to the overall integrity of the sport.
“The commission has been charged with the responsibility of ensuring Nigeria is within a reasonable period of time, removed from the list of seven countries World Athletics and the Athletics Integrity Unit have named to have the highest doping risk and considered as a threat to the overall integrity of athletics,” said Okowa.
“They are also to ensure appropriate anti-doping measures are in place in accordance with World Athletics anti-doping rules so that the federation can prevent a repeat of the disqualification of our athletes at global international competitions.”
The AFN also apologised to President Muhammadu Buhari, Youth and Sports Minister, Sunday Dare and all Nigerians for the unsavoury event, which led to the inability of 10 track and field athletes to compete at the ongoing Olympics.
“As a new board, we have to take responsibility for the inaction of our predecessors and assure Nigerians that appropriate measures will always be taken at all times and in compliance with relevant World Athletics competition and anti-doping rules to protect our athletes,” Okowa said.
Others members of the commission are Doctors Paul Onyido, Femi Ayorinde, Effi Usen and Bukola Bojuwoye, as well as the technical director of the Federation (yet to be appointed). Inwang Israel Mfon will serve as the commission’s secretary.
Legendary Nigerian athlete Blessing Okagbare was also disqualified from the Tokyo Olympics for a doping violation. The suspension stopped Okagbare from participating in the semifinals of the women’s 100m.
The AIU in the press release in the early hours of Saturday stated that Okagbare was provisionally suspended with immediate effect after a sample collected from her tested positive for human Growth Hormone.
Growth Hormone is a non-specified substance on the 2021 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List and a provisional suspension is mandatory following an adverse analytical finding for such substance under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.
- Read more: AFN Stands With Blessing Okagbare After Tokyo Olympics Disqualification
- Read more: Tokyo Olympics: 12 Nigerian Athletes cleared, eligible to compete
The AIU stated yesterday that it collected the sample from Okagbare during an out-of-competition test on July 19 and revealed the WADA-accredited laboratory that analysed the sample notified the AIU of the adverse analytical finding at mid-day Central European Time on Friday July 30.
The statement further said that Okagbare was notified of the adverse analytical finding and of her provisional suspension Saturday morning in Tokyo.
Chidi Nwoke/The Guardian.
