By Stella Kabruk
Ilorin – A Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports official, Ademola Are, says all athletes discovered from the National Youths Games will be handed over to the sports federations for proper grooming.
Are, who is the ministry’s Director of Grassroots Sports, further said athletes with good performances but who were unable to win medals during the competition would also mot be shunned.
“All athletes discovered during this competition will be handed over to the national sports federations for proper grooming and nurturing.
“We will still use those who didn’t win medals but who performed well too. They will also be groomed.
“They will also be used at the federation level for future competitions,’’ he said in Ilorin at the venue of the Games which ends on Friday.
Are added that measures put in place by the ministry to check cheating at the Games was the disqualification of athletes even after they had won medals.
“Any athlete we found to have cheated would be disqualified, even after he or she had won medal or medals.
“It is a fact that if we allow over-age athletes to come in, then we are denying young ones from participating in the competition and sports in general,’’ he said.