WADA: No Nigerian anthem and flag at African Games and Olympics if..

Flashback to Atlanta 1996 Olympics and the video of Chioma Ajunwa singing the Nigerian anthem and the Nigerian flag hoisted for the first time in Games
history.

Last year, a tearful Tobi Amusan was watched by millions across the globe as she stood at the podium as the first Nigerian world outdoor champion in track
and field with the Nigerian flag blown hoisted highest at the Hayward stadium in Oregon for the world to behold the country that has just produced a world champion.

These scenes will not be absent if Nigerian athletes win at the African Games in Ghana in March and the Olympic Games in Paris, France in August.

What will however be absent will be the rendition of Nigeria’s national anthem and hoisting of the green and white Nigerian flag if the World Antidoping Agency, WADA, makes good its threat to ban the country on Friday December 8, 2023.

WADA, in a message sent to the Nigeria Anti-Doping Organization, NADO, titled: Consequences of non-compliance for National Anti-Doping Organization of
Nigeria, listed the consequences Nigeria will face for her inability to address antidoping concerns raised by the world body.

One of the consequences reads thus: ‘Nigeria’s flag will not be flown at regional, continental and World Championships, and Events, organized by Major Event
Organizations (other than the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games), until the reinstatement conditions are met’

Also, ‘Nigeria’s flag will not be flown at the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, until the reinstatement conditions are met.

Nigeria will also not be able to host major regional, continental and international championships and Games.

SportsNow gathered that this is the second time in four years that WADA threatened to sanction Nigeria for its sloppy handling of antidoping issues,
including domesticating international anti-doping rules.

A hugely sum of over N560m was reportedly approved and released to the the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development but Sportsnow could not ascertain
if the money was used to addressed areas WADA wanted adressed.

A competent source in the Sports Ministry told our correspondent that nothing was done to address majority of the issues hence the threat again by WADA.

It was als gathered that Sports Minister, John Enoh has made a presentation to the Federal Executive Council on the issue and that it is being addressed.

‘I am confident WADA will not ban NADO on December 8 as all necessary documents have been packaged and sent to WADA about NADO and Nigeria’s action plans,’
said the source who id not want to be named.

Whether WADA will accept ‘promissory notes’ in form of action plans this time around is left to be seen.