Anti-doping bill passes second reading in House of Reps

The House of Representatives yesterday passed for second reading a bill that seeks to establish the Nigerian Sports Anti-Doping Agency.

The bill, sponsored by Rep Diri Douye (PDP, Bayelsa), would confer the agency with the responsibility of carrying out all functions related to anti-doping as enshrined in the World Anti-Doping Code.

Leading debate on the bill, the lawmaker said when established, the bill would save Nigeria from any sanction by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) by complying with all its requirements, thereby preventing Nigeria from being declared non-compliant.

He said the passage of the bill into law would also boost public confidence in clean sports in the country, saying “if the bill is not urgently passed, Nigeria may be banned by WADA.”

The implications of such ban, he said, are far reaching, ‘so there’s need to quickly look into its merits and demerits to enable us do what is right.

“In competitive sports, doping refers to the use of banned athletic performanceenhancing drugs by competitors. The use of banned drugs to enhance performance is considered unethical, and therefore prohibited by most international sports organizations, including the International Olympics Committee.

“Doping has spread to vulnerable athletic and non-athletic populations alike. Apart from performance enhancing considerations, people again dope to prevent pain and to improve their looks,” he said.

The lawmaker added that there are health risks involved in doping, saying it could lead to kidney damage and increased aggression.

Other side effects, he said, included baldness and low sperm count for men and increased facial hair and deepened voices for women.

After the second reading of the bill, Speaker Yakubu Dogara referred it to the committee on sports for further legislative action.