The minister of sports development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly for fast tracking the passage of the National Anti-Doping Bill.
The minister in a statement signed by his special assistant on media, Diana-Mary Nsan, said the transmission of the Anti-doping Bill 2024 to the National Assembly and the accelerated passage of the same remains a landmark achievement of President Tinubu administration.
“It is a show of the courageous and bold leadership of the president, a final and appropriate response to the perennial issues of doping that have characterized Nigeria’s relationship with the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA),” Enoh said.
According to Enoh, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had threatened to ban Nigeria from international competitions because of the country’s inability to domesticate the national anti-doping law, amidst other non-compliance issues
“This administration was greeted with WADA issuing a notice to ban Nigeria from International Competitions which degenerated to the point that the agency took Nigeria to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). Amidst other non-compliant issues, the main challenge was Nigeria’s inability to domesticate the National Anti-doping Law and setting up a National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) as part of its obligation having signed the international convention in 1999.
“For years, the country has grappled with meeting up to the expectations of the World Anti-Doping Organization ,despite being a foundational signatory for 25 years. Nigeria has been in the eye of the storm due to its inability to domesticate the Anti-Doping Law with the backing of parliament.
“I must thank our sports loving president for his foresight immediately when the issues were brought before him .His foresight and actions have put the country on the right path in sports.
“I also appreciate the National Assembly for the passage of the bill ,consideration and approval of the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters during plenary.
“The county will no longer have doubts of its participation in global sporting events, eligibility to host sports competitions amongst other perennial issues,” the Minister said.
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