The National Sports Commission, NSC, has disqualified six registered athletes with antidoping issues, saying they cannot compete for medals at the ongoing National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024.
The athletes are Marcus Okon representing Akwa Ibom State in Para Athletics, Ayabeke Opeyemi representing Bayelsa State in Gymnastics, and Kareem Shukurat representing Lagos State in kickboxing.
Others include Ogunsemilore Cynthia representing Bayelsa State in kickboxing, Animashaun Sofia representing Lagos State in Para powerlifting, and Omole Joshua representing Bayelsa State in kickboxing.
The decision was made after a strategic joint meeting of the Main Organising Committee and the Local Organising Committee of the Games on Monday.
According to a statement signed by the Commission’s director of press, Mrs Kehinde Ajayi, the decision is in line with global best practices and the World antidoping Agency (WADA) code.
Meanwhile, the Commission’s director general, Bukola Olopade, charged all the participating states to take note of this.
He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that every athlete compete very clean.
He said, “The issue of antidoping is one important mandate of the Commission to ensure that Nigeria is devoid of drugs problems at both domestic and international competitions.
“We are happy now that the National antidoping law has finally been passed by our Sports loving President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the ripple effect of such a landmark fear must swiftly be felt in our Sports starting with the current Sports Festival”;;.
