Bio accuses coaches of complicity in doping

Addressing the press in Abuja, the minister said it has become a common practice for most coaches who want to travel for competitions with their athletes by all means to encourage such athletes to risk their lives by taking banned substances that would enhance their performance. According to the minister before any international championship, it […]

Addressing the press in Abuja, the minister said it has become a common practice for most coaches who want to travel for competitions with their athletes by all means to encourage such athletes to risk their lives by taking banned substances that would enhance their performance.

According to the minister before any international championship, it is expected that the timing or performance of athletes in camp should be very close or equal to what athletes of other countries are recording.

He said the idea is to always take only those athletes who are considered good enough to compete favourably with their opponents in other climes.

Bio maintained that to ensure that they and their athletes are not left out, some of the coaches encourage the athletes to take banned drugs in order for them to meet up with the set standard.

The minister said: “Any coach or official implicated in any of such cases will also be severely punished. The country will no longer tolerate a situation whereby its name is dragged into the mud by any athlete or official”.

At the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in India, four athletes failed doping tests and three out of the four are Nigerian athletes.