The National Sports Commission (NSC) has disqualified six athletes from participating in the ongoing National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, due to anti-doping violations.
In a statement signed by the Director of Press, Kehinde Ajayimade, and released to journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the commission confirmed that the affected athletes would not be allowed to compete for medals at the festival. The NSC emphasized that the decision aligns with global best practices and complies with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.
The commission warned that any registered athlete flagged for anti-doping infractions would be automatically excluded from competing for medals at the event. The ruling followed a strategic joint meeting between the Main Organising Committee and the Local Organising Committee, held on Monday in Abeokuta.
NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade urged all participating states to ensure that their athletes adhere strictly to anti-doping rules, stressing the importance of maintaining a clean competition.
“The issue of anti-doping is a key mandate of the Commission to ensure Nigeria is free from drug-related scandals, both at home and on the international stage,” Olopade said.
He expressed satisfaction with the recent passage of the national anti-doping law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling it a landmark achievement. “We are happy that the national anti-doping law has finally been passed by our sports-loving President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the ripple effect of such a landmark feat must swiftly be felt in our sports, starting with the current sports festival,” he added.
The Gateway Games 2024 was officially declared open on Sunday in Ogun State by President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun announced cash rewards for state athletes who win medals at the event. According to the governor, athletes who secure gold medals will receive ₦2.5 million each, while silver and bronze medalists will be rewarded with ₦1.5 million and ₦1 million, respectively.
The sports festival, which kicked off in the state on Sunday, continues amid a renewed emphasis on integrity, fair play, and a drug-free sporting environment.
