…As FG Introduces Use Of MRI Scanners for Athletes
Minister of Sport Dr. Tanmmy Danagogo has vowed to deal decisively with any coach or official who takes encourages athletes to use banned performance enhancing substances in Nigeria.
Danagogo issued the warning on Thursday in his first official reaction to the doping allegation on teenage weightlifter Chika Amalaha, in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. He also said the country would introduce the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as condition for double checking the status of athletes before any major competition.
“I will ensure the use of MRI scanning devices amongst other measures, as routine on our age-grade players, and pre-competition drug-test regime on athletes generally,” Danagogo said.
He warned of severe consequences for any officials and coaches who are found guilty of encouraging or condoning cheating of any kind.
“The reported first sample drug-test failure of our female weightlifter is very embarrassing and I feel so sad, although I am still convinced that 16-year-old Amalaha is innocent,” he added.
“I hope she doesn’t fail the confirmation test.”
Danagogo promised to use his office as sports minister to enshrine tenets of integrity and fair competition in the nation’s sports,especially focusing on the youths.
