NSF 2025 : Uzodimma caution athletes against Narcotics, illicit drugs
From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Photo : Cross section of participants of the seminar flanked in the middle (white attire) is Mr. Evaristus Onyeocha, Imo State Commissioner for Sports and Youths Development with Coordinators of the programme.
Barely one week to the National Sports Festival, NSF tagged Ogun 2025, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has cautioned Nigerian athletes against the intake of narcotics and illicit drugs that will enhanced their performances but endanger them for dope test.
Uzodimma disclosed this during a one day well attended sensitization cum awareness campaign programme held at Dan Anyiam Stadium Complex, Owerri organized by a Botanical Research group from University of Ibadan in collaboration with Imo State Ministry of Sports and Youths Development for the State’s athletes participating in the national sports festival in which Mr. Obonna Ezechukwu, Special Adviser to Imo State Government on Narcotics and Illicit Drugs Monitoring represented the Governor.
Ezechukwu reiterated that the essence of the seminar is to sensitized Imo State contingents for the 2025 National Sports Festival, NSF holding in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital on those botanical supplements people take unknown to them that they contains some ingredients that are considered illegal in sporting activities most of these stimulants he said are illicit.
He pointed out that the key objective of the seminar is to caution athletes on the need for them to be wary of taking or eating such botanical supplements and materials so as to avoid the possibilities of testing positive to dope.
“Most of the traditional medicines are dangerous because they contain some enhancement substances that are not acceptable for the festival because if taking they will definitely fail dope test as most of the herbal drugs and remedies contains enhancement stimulants”.
He commended Uzodimma for his zero tolerance to illicit drugs consumption and addiction in the State as well as his Shared Prosperity Administration penchant towards there eradication, noting this as one of the fundamental reasons of his government approval for the State athletes to be sensitized on menace of illicit drugs and to be drug free ahead of the national sports fiesta.
Ezechukwu further reported that before the assumption of Senator Hope Uzodimma as the Shared Prosperity Governor of Imo State that drug abuse was highly prevalent in the State.
The Special Adviser pointed out that based on administration’s commitment against Illicit Drugs, that Uzodimma is the only Governor since inception of the state that has created office against Narcotics and Illicit Drugs and appointed Special Adviser, SA to oversee the activities and proffered plausible solutions to the menace.
He gave credit to the office for doing what he described as marvellously very well through regular organization of sensitization seminars in most of the secondary schools in the State and for forming synergy and collaborative partnership with NATIP and NDLEA in the organization of most workshop and fights against dealers and those patronizing them just to ensure that the menace is drastically reduced or eradicated.
He also enjoined the athletes to jettison narcotics and illicit drugs in appreciation to the Governor’s appeal and commitments for them to be drug free so that they will not bring shame to the State.
Ezechukwu reiterated that, the fight against Illicit Drugs and drugs abuse should be a collective responsibilities and enjoined all hands to be on deck for there reduction and possible eradication.
In her reaction, Dr. Mrs. Peggy Joe Nwanefuru Olaseide, a sports administrator and Physiotherapist being the team leader of University of Ibadan Botanical Research Centre, a committed group of researchers working towards the prevention of Autochthonous (indigenous roots and herbs)Botanical Supplement Doping, especially among elites athletes in Nigeria.
Olaseide pointed out that “It’s a historical facts that our forefathers and mothers lived with local herbs and roots, and it actually worked for them, more so most of the pharmaceutical drugs are made with extracts from roots and leaves.
“It’s obvious that the athletes have been using the normal chemicals and steroids for enhancement performance or doping, but because of the WADA(World Anti Doping Agency) rules and WADA Anti Doping sanctions, they’re finding indigenous ways of going about those sanctions.
“Unfortunately most of the athletes have tested positive to doping inadvertently because they are ignorant of the fact that they are actually doping because they take these natural roots and herbs for normal wellness, for normal recreation and relaxation, for instance eating of bitter kola excessively could increase chances of doping, just like carbonated drinks like Coka Cola.
“While sensitizing the athletes, we equally access their knowledge and perception, if they are conscious of the implications of what they eat, drink, rob and the need to maintain carefulness and discipline in using these things, so that the athletes will go out and perform creditably without bringing shame to the State.
“Most atimes the athletes may be avoiding doping by ignorantly eating natural things that contains toxic enhancement materials detrimental to their sporting life.
“As researchers indigenous to University of Ibadan, we are like in the field collecting data and the athletes are our sample sizes with the results, we will collaborate with some agencies that would make maximum use of the findings and recommendations for better performances of the nation’s sporting activities” he assured.
