The House of Representatives has opened a probe into the mystery behind Nigerian athletes’ disqualification at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics over alleged doping.
During the plenary on Wednesday, the lower chamber resolved to summon the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, to explain the preparedness of the Nigerian contingent for the sports festival.
The resolutions followed the unanimous adoption of a motion at the plenary titled, “Need to Investigate Activities of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on [the] Failed Doping Test by Nigeria Athletes at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.”
While moving the motion, the lawmaker representing Ijesa South Federal Constituency of Osun, Babatunde Ayeni, said the Nigerian delegation to the Olympic Games fared well in terms of performance, thereby raising the country’s rating in the comity of nations.
He recalled the outstanding performance of the Nigerian football team at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics where the country bagged a historic first soccer gold medal in the United States of America.
Consequently, the lawmakers resolved to “Invite the Minister to brief the Committee on Sports on the level of Nigeria’s compliance with extant regulations set by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the independent anti-doping arm, Athletics Integrity Unit.”
Similarly, the House mandated its Committee on Sports to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the failed doping test especially that of Blessing Okagbare who was meant for a podium performance but was banned after the semi-final in the 100 metres race.
