Nigeria has been declared non-compliant by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Executive Committee on Thursday in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Frederic Donze, WADA’s chief operating officer, told insidethegames the decision was taken because of “structural” issues related to testing at the Nigerian National Anti-Doping Committee.
Donze claimed, however, that they were already working on the deficiencies and WADA were confident these would be resolved in the near future.
According to sources, WADA frowns at the interference of the Sports Ministry, especially the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung in the affairs of an agency that is required to be independent.
They pointed at the Minister’s decision to set up the committee to probe the doping allegations against Honourable Olamide George when it should have the duty of the AFN’s Anti-doping Committee to carry out the probe.
It was also gathered that the Nigerian National Anti-Doping Committee only appears in name as no budgetary provision was made for running the committee.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
