The Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Tuesday
inaugurated a 5-man committee to investigate the alleged violation of
doping rules and improper conduct in the ministry.
Inaugurating the committee, Dalung charged the committee to be fair and
thorough in its investigation on the matter that has brought lots of
misconceptions in the ministry.
Dalung informed the committee that Olamide George, Vice President of
the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, and Sade Abugan, an athlete, were
alleged to have violated doping rules during the 2012 Commonwealth Games
in India.
He said that the issue was addressed by the ministry after the 2012
Commonwealth Games and two persons were indicted but only one person was
sanctioned then.
Dalung urged the committee to establish whether the Nigerian
government over the years has acted in a manner to cover up the issue.
“This action has continued to generate a number of petitions to the
ministry and we have decided to look into the matter to find lasting
solutions to it.
“The committee has the power to dig into the matter and call anybody
that is found wanting to appear before the committee irrespective of the
person’s position.
“We need to do all that is possible to clear the name of the ministry
and ensure that we do the right thing at all times’’ he said.
Dalung gave the committee three weeks within which to complete its investigations and submit the report to the ministry.
He said that the committee would be funded properly to ensure that all investigations are carried out adequately.
Responding on behalf of the committee members, Pius Oteh, Chairman of
the committee, pledged to put in their best to deliver on the mandate
given to them.
Other members of the committee included: Danjuma Mohammed, Oloruntoba Amos, Johnny Hamaking and Olusegun Akinlotan as secretary.
Meanwhile, Olamide George, Vice President of the Athletics Federation
of Nigeria allegedly involved has been suspended pending the outcome of
the investigation by the committee.