12th April, 2018
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has called for collaboration with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority to ensure a firm anti-doping structure in Nigeria.
Solomon Dalong, Minister of Youth and Sports, Nigeria, made the call during a visit to the Operation Centre of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority in Gold Coast, Australia.
A statement issued on Thursday by Nneka Anibeze, the Special Assistant to the minister on media, said that Dalong led a five-man delegation to the centre to seek partnership between the two countries’ anti-doping agencies.
“We are grateful for your magnanimity in enabling us to visit this magnificent anti-doping centre.
“We will appreciate collaboration with Australia and any other assistance from your country to ensure a dope free society.
“We wish to emulate the organisational structure of Australia Sports Anti-doping Authority (ASADA) which will be used as a benchmark for the establishment of a legislatively backed anti-doping agency in Nigeria,’’ Dalong is quoted as saying.
The statement said that Darrel Jeffery, the Operations Centre Manager and Director of Investigations, Australia Sports Anti-doping Authority, promised to look into the request.
Jeffery, who gave an overview of the operations, organization, structure and functions of the center, said the country’s Anti-Doping Agency was upgraded to Anti Doping Authority.
According to him, it is borne out of the need to increase the independence and responsibilities mandate of the organisation.
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“We carry out doping control tests before, during and after the games which also includes intelligence report gathering and analysis.
“The centre also conducts education and outreach programs, recruitment, training and development of doping control officers and chaperones,’’ the statement quoted Jeffrey as saying.
The statement also said that Jeffery identified three major sports as being at high risk of doping.
“Based on international standard for testing and investigation, there are three sports considered high risk for doping.
“They are athletics, weightlifting and cycling.
“Selection of athletes to be tested is based on intelligence report, which includes athlete’s biological passport and partnerships with International Federations and other National Anti Doping Organisations,’’ Jeffrey is quoted as saying.