The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has confirmed that about
Eight Nigerian athletes, who won medals at the 2015 edition of the All African
Games tested positive to banned drugs, and therefore have been banned.
The athletes involved are Deborah Odeyemi, Chinazom Amadi,
Samson Idiata (Athletics) Sunday Ezeh (Para-athletics), Thomas Kure
(Para-powerlifting) Patience Opuene (Wrestling) and James Igbadiwei.
Honourable Dalung said this was necessary in the fight against
anti-doping in the sport, adding that more stringent measures must be put up to
avoid embarrassment at the forth coming 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.
The athletes were said to have tested positive at the 2015 All
Africa Games held in Congo. They have been placed on a four-year ban each. The
eighth athlete, a weightlifter, Elizabeth Owuah, was banned for eight years.
The Minister of Youth and Sport, Solomon Dalung, revealed this
on Thursday.
Dalung, who spoke with journalists at the National Stadium,
Abuja after a meeting with the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Olympics
Committee, said, “Concerning the news that is in public domain that some of our
athletes tested positive, it is true. About five medallists have been indicted
and tested positive and that takes us to why we are meeting here because we
want to intensify advocacy on the issue of anti-doping.
“It is very important to do more advocacy on doping in sports so
that when we get to Rio we will not have these instances again.” Punch
Sports Ministry Ban Eight Athletes For Failing Drug Test
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