(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/unesco-300x228.jpg) "If the goal to promote and sustain a culture of dope-free sports among our athletes is to be achieved, then the training of coaches and technical directors as major stakeholders should be done regularly in order to educate and inform them of their roles and responsibilities in national anti-doping matters to ensure that they have meaningful and knowledge-based interaction with their athletes".
This was stated Wednesday, 17th April, 2013 by the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, (NSC) Bolaji Abdullahi at the opening ceremony of the 2-day anti-doping workshop for national coaches and technical directors at the National Stadium, Abuja.
The Minister who was represented by Al-Hassan Yakmut, Director, Grassroots Sports Development at the NSC noted that coaches and technical directors are indeed critical stakeholders in the anti-doping campaign and as such their influence on athletes can neither be overlooked nor under-estimated.
According to him, a provision of the UNESCO Convention against doping in sports clearly stipulates that "Not only are athletes sanction able for anti-doping rule violations but their support personnel including coaches; technical directors and medical personnel as well as other officials and organizations can equally be found liable of anti-doping infraction".
He further stated that this informed the need for the training workshop which is specifically designed to provide participants with the requisite and up-to-date anti-doping information to inspire a better understanding of anti-doping global best practices, especially as it pertains to Nigeria.
In his remarks, Chairman of the National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC), Brig-General Jonny Hamakin, said that information and education are very critical components of the national anti-doping crusade.
He maintained that training workshops such as this are long term preventive measures that play a more central role for creating a strong anti-doping culture and practice of dope-free sports, in line with sports' ethical principles.
He therefore urged the participants to avail themselves of the golden opportunity stressing that "clean sports" in Nigeria is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders.
On her part, a representative of the Secretary-General, Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO, Mrs. M. O. Anene-Maidoh said that as major players in sporting activities, young people in a quest to "win at all times" sometimes engage in unwholesome practices in the use of performance enhancing substances which undermine public confidence in high-level sporting events and totally negate the social ties, team spirit and the spirit of cooperation traditionally associated with sports.
The organization of this workshop therefore, provides the opportunity to increase awareness of the convention, build capacity of stakeholders while sharing best practices in the fight against doping in sports.
The workshop is jointly organized by the National Sports Commission, National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC), in collaboration with the UNESCO for better understanding and ultimately effective implementation of the convention against doping in sports in Nigeria.
This is the first time that UNESCO is collaborating with the NSC on anti-doping issues.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria