Six Athletes Disqualified from Gateway Games over Anti-Doping Violations

Six athletes have been disqualified from the ongoing National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, for violating anti-doping regulations, according to the National Sports Commission (NSC).

The athletes, whose names remain undisclosed, were barred from further participation in the competition currently taking place in Ogun State. The disqualification was confirmed in a statement released by Kehinde Ajayimade, Director of Press at the NSC, and circulated to journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The Commission stated that the decision complies with international anti-doping standards and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code. It followed a strategic meeting between the festival’s Main and Local Organising Committees on Monday.

NSC Director-General, Bukola Olopade, reaffirmed the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance on doping. He urged participating states to ensure their athletes compete clean, stressing that drug violations will not be tolerated in the quest for medals.

“The issue of anti-doping is a key mandate of the Commission. We are committed to keeping Nigeria’s sports clean at both domestic and international levels,” Olopade stated. He also applauded President Bola Tinubu for recently signing the national anti-doping law, calling for its swift implementation starting with the ongoing festival.

The Gateway Games 2024 officially kicked off on Sunday with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Tinubu at the opening ceremony. To boost morale, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun announced cash rewards for medal-winning athletes representing the state: ₦2.5 million for gold, ₦1.5 million for silver, and ₦1 million for bronze.