by Professor Emmanuel Ojeme
Competitive sports is governed by rules and ethical procedures to which all participants must adhere. Unlike competitive democratic elections whose results are sometimes said to be rigged, victory in competitive and organised sports cannot be rigged or obtained through fraudulent means involving the violation of the rules of the game. Sometimes, however, athletes cut corners and seek extra help to elicit outcomes beyond their natural talents and performance potential.
One of the means of achieving this is through doping by way of hormone injections and use of performance enhancement drugs. Knowing the reality of this indulgence among athletes, the organizing sports federations have institutionalised mechanisms for testing elite athletes. In track and field athletics, for example, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has established rules and regulations which all athletes of the elite status must subject themselves, statutorily. This practice has brought sanity to Athletics. In this case for example, after every major competition, an athlete must take doping test to validate results achieved.
This has been the nightmare of Nigerian athletes.
Chronologically, some Nigerian notable athletes have been banned, medals withdrawn and such athletes are put to shame while the nation is constantly embarrassed as a result of this misdemeanour. The list of banned athletes for doping violations is embarrassing and is available in the AIU doping website for verification. This list contains the chronology of Nigerian athletes who have fallen into this trap. Why does it seem to be preponderant among Nigerian elite athletes after the nation has celebrates their performances and the cock crows, the athlete is banned for doping violations. This writer has critically reviewed the doping violations and established that most of the athletes usually lose their innocence and doping virginity after they have osmotically migrated abroad to take advantage of superior training facilities to improve their athletic fortunes.
While abroad, they face pressures, economic pressures amongst others. They are under the supervision of foreign coaches and the control of Nigerian local athletic organisations is loosened. They acquire foreign scholarships which require the athlete to attain and sustain a particular standard of performance to retain their scholarships and funding under these conditions, with the home office control of the athlete is loosened. Many things can go wrong with the athlete. He or she must improve or attain higher performances in her event but the athlete who unfortunately is no more innocent may have secretly acquired new habits. This is the period they compete and jump or skip doping tests schedules as required by the AIU.
Meanwhile, the foreign based athletes are celebrated but sooner than later the hidden truth is unveiled. And what is it? He or she has violated the anti-doping rules by evading the tests or test is taken and is positive for banned drugs.
For athletes who osmotically migrate from Nigeria, for example, they sometimes get out of control of the sports federation and also display arrogance due to their new status but sooner than later the bubble bursts and it all zeroes down. It all means that Nigerian athletes must become champions through the organisational infrastructure and programmes of Nigerian sports institutions, under the close monitoring and control of Nigerian authorities. If we cannot achieve this possibility which would guarantee more disciplined control of the athletes behaviours, doping violations would remain part of elite athletes behaviour even after they have won medals.
The Sports Federations must set up very stringent rules and guidelines for its athletes. Have you wondered why it must be AIU who fishes them out? Why does the Federation not pre-empt this from happening through its own anti-doping measures or enforcement of its own rules? There is a sociological thesis to explain this observation. This is the pillar of this presentation.
Written by Prof Emmanuel Ojeme, you can contact him via EMAIL:successojeme@yahoo.com
