The National Sports Commission (NSC) has disqualified six athletes from participating in the ongoing National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, due to anti-doping violations.
The decision was announced following 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 disqualified athletes include 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 are Ogunsemilore Cynthia from Bayelsa State (kickboxing), Animashaun Sofia from Lagos State (Para powerlifting), and Omole Joshua from Bayelsa State (kickboxing).
The NSC emphasized that the disqualifications align with global best practices and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code, underscoring Nigeria's commitment to clean sports competition.
Bukola Olopade, the Commission's Director General, has charged all participating states to take note of this development. He reiterated the NSC's commitment to ensuring that all athletes compete fairly and without performance-enhancing substances.
"The issue of anti-doping is one important mandate of the Commission to ensure that Nigeria is devoid of drugs problems at both domestic and international competitions," Olopade stated.
He further expressed satisfaction that the National Anti-Doping Law has finally been passed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as a "landmark feat" whose effects must be immediately felt in Nigerian sports, beginning with the current Sports Festival.
The Gateway Games 2024 continues with athletes from across Nigeria competing for medals in various sporting disciplines, now under stricter anti-doping enforcement.
