The Chairman of the National Anti-Doing Organisation (NADO), Prof Kenneth Anugweje, has allayed Nigerians’ fears over the final judgment by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in the matter involving the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Nigeria.
CAS was expected to decide on WADA’s case against Nigeria on Friday, July 12, but there are indications that it may have been deferred till a future date, possibly after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Anugweje, who was appointed NADO chairman in September 2022, told The Guardian from Team Nigeria’s training camp in Germany that he was not even aware of a final judgment day set aside by CAS.
“I am not even aware that CAS set aside any day for judgment on the WADA case against Nigeria,” he said. “The publication was full of errors. For example, WADA does not have categories. The Category A is a creation of World Athletics. Take the truth from me, athletes here in Germany are saying that some media houses back home don’t wish them well by stating that they may not be at the Olympics. Our media should endeavour to ask me the latest development before writing on the CAS judgment.”
WADA had claimed that Nigeria, alongside some other countries, did not comply with its code. The non-compliance in the Nigeria case is due to the alleged failure by the Prof Anugweje-led NADO to address several critical requirements in its anti-doping programme following an audit carried out by WADA in late 2022.
The implications of this non-compliance are far-reaching and potentially devastating for Nigerian sports. If the CAS upholds WADA’s decision, Nigeria could face severe consequences, including prohibitions on hosting major sporting events and, more alarmingly, the possibility of Nigerian athletes being barred from competing under the national flag at international competitions, including the upcoming Olympics.
Earlier, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Public Relations Officer (PRO), Tony Nezianya, told The Guardian that he is confident that Nigeria will triumph in the case.
“I am not entertaining any fear of Nigeria losing the case because we, as a nation, have addressed virtually all the issues raised by WADA. The National Assembly also recently passed a law to strengthen us in the anti-doping war.”
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