Abuja – The General Secretary, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Bamiduro Olumide, on Tuesday in Abuja said the federation had taken measures to ensure that the sport remained dope-free in Nigeria.
Olumide told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the AFN board and the federation’s medical unit were working hard to ensure that athletes were free of doping.
“The medical unit and the board have just sent out what we called `a whereabout information form’ to every athlete who will participate in our events this season.
“Failure to fill the form is seen to be that you have violated the anti-doping rules, because the need for the `whereabout’ form is for us to be able to know where the athletes are at a particular point in time.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“We will also send out the anti-doping group during their training, out of training, and to their house to monitor their activities.
“The team will go to them at any time to pick them and conduct tests on them. These are some of the measures put in place to checkmate doping.’’
He warned that the failure of any athlete to present himself or herself for the test when called upon to do so would constitute a doping violation.
Olumide said there would however be a seminar at the beginning of the Nigerian athletics season by the medical committee on anti-doping.
“The seminar is to enlighten athletes and coaches on the damages of doping,’’ the AFN general secretary said.
He said the seminar would educate them on the International Association of Athletics Federations’ Anti-Doping Regulations and the applicable sanctions when doping was violated.(NAN)
