A Nigerian athletics coach, Hameed Muritala, has been handed a lifetime ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

The coach was initially handed a 10-year suspension by Nigeria’s National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC) after being found guilty of doping a minor athlete. But the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which has jurisdiction over international-level athletes, their support personnel, World Athletics officials, and member federation officials in dealings with World Athletics, confirmed yesterday a lifetime ban for the Kwara State athletics coach.

The AIU reportedly frowned at the leniency of the sanction, given the nature of the violation. Following reports that Muritala, despite his suspension, was seen leading Kwara State athletes to the AFN Golden League in Benin City, the sanction was escalated to a lifetime ban.

The AIU publishes a consolidated list of all persons serving periods of ineligibility in athletics, including those sanctioned at the national level.

According to SportsNow.com, at the end of March 2026, several Nigerian athletes appeared on this list.

Rising sprinter, Consider Ekanem was banned for four years following an infraction in December 2024, with his sanction running from December 6, 2024, until January 19, 2029, and his results disqualified between December 6, 2024 and January 20, 2025.

Johnson Chidera Nnamani received a two-year suspension after a violation in May 2025, with his sanction running from May 8, 2025, until July 6, 2027, and his results were disqualified between May 8,  2025 and July 7, 2025.

Blessing Solomon was handed a three-year ban in December 2025, with his sanction running from December 6, 2025, until February 4, 2029, and his results disqualified between December 6, 2025 and February 4, 2029.