Kwara athletes charged against use of banned substances ahead of 2022 NSF

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Athletes that will represent Kwara state at the 2022 National Sports Festival tagged “Asaba 2022” have been charged to train hard to achieve podium success, rather than engaging in the use of performance enhancing substances.

The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bolakale Adisa Mogaji made the call today, Tuesday November 15, 2022, at a one-day Seminar with the theme “Creating awareness of paradigm shift in changing narrative of Kwara State Athletes to say no to performance enhancement drugs”, held at the Commission’s premises.

The seminar was organised by the Kwara State Athletics Association, and bankrolled by the Chairman of the Association, Alhaji Tunde Abdulkareem.

According to Mallam Mogaji, “there is the need to continually educate the athletes against the use of banned drugs in sports, especially on the consequences of doing so”.

He said that the state’s athletes are in top shape for the Games, and will from Monday; begin closed camping ahead of the multi-sports event.

“I have just spoken to the Coaches and Organizing Secretaries on our plans for the Games. We are going to Asaba to win the festival this time around, and not going for jamboree. We will be fielding athletes in 23 events, and we want to thank the Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the support, always”, he said.

The Chairman of the Kwara Athletics Association, Alhaji Tunde Abdulkareem said that the seminar could not have come at a better time than now, when athletes are preparing for the festival.

The Chairman, who was represented at the gathering by the Chairperson of the Technical Sub-Committee of the Association, Dr. Mrs Rofiat Olushola Dauda of the Department of Human Kinetics, University of Ilorin averred that ignorance is the main reason some athletes are caught in the web.

An Olympian and Board Chairman of the Kwara State Television Service, Mallam Hameed Adio described the use of banned substances as absolutely bad and reprehensible, adding that doing so means short-changing other athletes, and denying other competitiors a level playing ground.

The Resource Person, Dr. Femi Ayorinde in his lecture said that its necessary to educate athletes on the effect of using performance enhancing drugs, for them to know what constitutes anti-doping rules violation, result management and the sanctions that follows.

Dr Ayorinde, who is a Consultant on Anti-Doping Services clarified that there are 11 anti-doping rules violations, among which are use of performance enhancing substances, possession, trafficking, aiding and abetting and administration, among others.

The lecture was also attended by Coaches, athletes, school teachers and students, members of the Association of Sports Officers (ASSPO), Organizing Secretaries and others.

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