Ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a bill seeking to domesticate and enforce international convention against doping in sport and establish the Nigeria National Anti-doping Centre has scaled through second reading at the House of Representatives.
The proposed legislation which was read for a second time at plenary on Thursday as sponsored by the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, seeks to implement Nigeria’s obligations to World Anti-doping Code, International Standards.
Leading debate on the general principles of the Bill, Hon. Ihonvbere reminded his colleagues that if the proposed domestication and establishment of Centre are not done before July 26, Nigeria may not participate in the forthcoming Olympics.
“This is a very important bill. It is for the health of sporting activities in Nigeria. We are already a signatory to the Code. Nigeria has been taken to the Court of International Arbitration for Sports for (not) setting up our Anti-doping Centre which is required of all countries that have signed the Code.
“If we don’t set it up before then (July 26) it means we will not participate in the coming Olympics,” he said, and the Bill was referred to the Committee on Treatise, Agreements and Protocols.
This is coming exactly one week after President Bola Tinubu transmitted the National Anti-doping Bill, 2024 to the House seeking expeditious passage ahead of the Olympic coming up from July 26, 2024.
Tinubu in a letter read at plenary last Thursday said: “The National Anti-doping Bill, 2024 seeks to create an administrative independent National Anti-doping organisation which is a cardinal requirement for
Nigeria to achieve compliance with the world anti-doping code and international standard for code compliance with codes by signatories.
“The enactment of this vital legislation will also help Nigeria avoid imposition of signatories consequences including loss of hosting rights and participation at regional, continental and world championships or major athletic events.”
