The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has said it will collaborate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to fight drugs usage by athletes.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare stated this on Friday, in Abuja, when Nigeria’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Hajo Sani paid him a courtesy visit.
He stressed the need for the ministry and UNESCO to work closely together to curb doping in sports.
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“In a deliberate way, we seek partnerships and collaborations with any organisation that is Youth-focused. As a Ministry, we will keep availing the youth of our country the benefits that are available,” he said.
Dare said with the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympics just around the corner, the emphasis had been on the need for Nigerian athletes to compete clean at the Games.
“We are barely eight days to the commencement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and emphasis has been on the need to have clean sports as we’ve been charging the athletes to compete fairly and cleanly, without using any banned substances.
“In another few days, we will see over 58 of our athletes in nine different sports competing with the best from across the world in Tokyo.
“Through the years of preparations, the emphasis has been on making sure we do not violate any of the guidelines provided by the World Anti-Doping Agency,” he said.
Earlier, Hajo Sani stressed the need for Nigerian athletes to always compete for clean devoid of doping.
“We want to commend the Ministry for all the youth and sports-focused initiatives that’s has been running and yielding results.
“On our part we will continue to ensure that our sportsmen and women compete clean in all competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and beyond, by not taking any substances that violate the rules of Sports,” she said. (NAN)
