AFN names seven-man Medical/Anti-Doping Commission

• Okagbare devastated by doping rule violation charge

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 yesterday in Tokyo on the sidelines of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad.

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,” he 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.

MEANWHILE, top Nigerian officials have revealed that sprinter Blessing Okagbare was devastated throughout Saturday following her provisional suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit for a doping rule violation. 
 
The AIU in the press release in the early hours of Saturday stated that the Nigerian 100/200m record holder was provisionally suspended with immediate effect after a sample collected from her tested positive for human Growth Hormone.
 
A top official of Team Nigeria told The Guardian yesterday on phone from Tokyo that Okagbare was totally devastated by the news.
 
“I was with Blessing, and she is totally devastated,” the official said.