The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports has released a press statement following the decision of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to bar 10 Nigerian athletes from competing at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, having not completed their Out of Competition Tests (OCTs).
The statement which was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and Chef de Mission of Team Nigeria, Nebelosa Anako, goes thus:
“The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development regrets the unfortunate development of 10 Nigerian Track and Field athletes not meeting the testing conditions of the Athletics Integrity Unit.
However, other 12 top Track and Field athletes have been cleared to complete in the Games. All necessary efforts were made to bring the athletes to date with compliance to the WADA regulations by the Ministry.
The 10 athletes are principally alternate and foreign students athletes, whose tests did not meet with WADA sample collection and analysis standards.
The situation is being managed by the Ministry and the AFN which have requested all athletes in the Games Village to remain focused to doing our motherland proud.
It’s worthy to note that the 10 athletes did not test positive for any banned substance, but rather did not meet up with the last of the 3 out-of-competition tests due to the aforementioned reason.
The Ministry notes and commends the decision of the AFN to appoint Prof. Ken Anugweje as Head of it’s Medical and Anti doping Commission.”
