TOKYO OLYMPICS 2021: House of Representatives to Investigate failed doping test by Nigerian Athletes

Njideka Ozoalor

Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Sports, Hon. Olumide Osoba on Tuesday disclosed that a Technical Committee has been set up to investigate the activities of Federal Ministry of Sports on the failed doping test by Nigerian Athletes at the just concluded Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Hon. Osoba disclosed this after a closed door meeting held in his office – Room 1.57 with the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, after which the Minister refused to respond to questions on the outcome of the meeting.

According to him, the report of the Technical Committee chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Hon. Rauf Modibbo is to be submitted alongside the Committee set up by the Ministry.
According to him, the Minister of Sports and Youth Development is expected to appear before the Committee in two weeks.

“Let me explain how the parliament works, a motion was moved and the committee was directed to investigate what exactly happened. Now the Committee needs all the information to be able to do its work.

“What we have done is that a Committee was set up to look into the events that happened and I have discussed with the Ministry that we said that we want the report of that Committee with the report of our Committee, members would go through both reports and then we would call the Ministry back and the Committee and some athletes and we would now have a proper interactive session with them.

“We want to do a thorough job, so we need all the information about what exactly transpired. We don’t have to do a rushed job that would not be thorough.

“In two weeks’ time, they are coming back, when enough information would be with the members so they can actually do a thorough job. We would not start an interactive session without all the information. We don’t what to do a shoddy job. In two weeks’ time all of you would be invited when they would appear in front of Parliament.

“A motion was moved and they must appear in front of parliament. Where we have all the information we need to do our work, you will all be called back and we would have that session.

According to him, “there are two committees. We have our own committee, a sub-Committee that is investigating this. We are the sports committee. We don’t need to alert you about teh committees we set up to investigate.

“We were given a brief by the whole House to go and investigate. So we have a sub-Committee of members that are technical to investigate. They have their own Committee as well, the Ministry they have set up their own Committee to investigate. Both reports would be married together and we would go through them and now call them to explain what is going on.

While responding to question after the meeting, sponsor of the motion on the ‘Need to investigate activities of Federal Ministry of Sports & Youth Development over failed doping test by Nigerian Athletes at the just concluded Olympic Games in Tokyo,’
Hon. Lawrence Babatunde Ayeni, disclosed that the Committee did not give sufficient notice to members ahead of the emergency meeting initiated by the Chairman.

He said: “Had been it been we had the knowledge of the meeting today, we would have been prepared for it. And in the Chamber today, not all the members were around, so only three of us around that is why we decided that we have shift the meeting to another day.

“But right now I cannot say precisely what the minister is here for because we are in the budget time and I learnt that issue the of the committee concerning the doping is among, but I don’t think that we entertained them today until a later date. I cannot give you the date right now.

“I am not the Chairman of the Committee. The Chairman has the right to say other things. But i know that the Minister is ready to come and answer whatever. I know they will come back,” Hon. Ayeni noted.

In his lead debate, Hon. Ayeni expressed grave concern over the turn of events, whereby the World Athletics’ independent anti-doping arm, Athletics Integrity Unit, had on the 20th July, 2021, rolled out its sledged hammer on, no fewer than 10 Nigerian Athletes, including the highly rated Blessing Okagbare, who had made the country proud at various international competitions.

He lamented that no fewer than 10 Nigerian athletes out of the 18 competitors from ‘high-risk’ nations were barred from the Tokyo Olympics after failing to meet requirements for out-of-competition drug testing.

According to him, the Athletics Integrity Unit via a statement, alleged that Blessing Okagbare, who won her opening heat of the Women’s 100 meters on Friday, had tested positive for human growth hormone.

Hon. Ayeni who frowned at the development, further expressed concern that despite the huge funds made available on yearly basis for the Regulatory Agencies in the Sport sector, no specific facility that will enable Nigeria to get into the Category A where such counties were regarded to have made “significant improvements” with anti-doping efforts.

To this end, the House mandated its Committee on Sports to investigate the immediate and remote cause of the failed doping test, with a view to forestall future occurrence, and strengthen its oversight function.