SPORT: NPFL ANNOUNCES START OF RANDOM TESTS OF PLAYERS

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Mandatory conduct of random tests for illicit drugs on players of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has commenced as all 20 clubs have been directed to facilitate the process for operatives of the National Anti-Doping Committee.

In a memo to Clubs signed by Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer, the anti doping tests will be administered on two players from each of the clubs involved in a given fixture without prior notice.

The clubs were enjoined to extend maximum cooperation to the Anti-Doping agency in the discharge of the task that aims to cleanse the NPFL of real and rumoured doping scandals.

In the circular, Owumi reminded the clubs of the initiative to introduce random tests, noting, “Recall our earlier memo informing all clubs of the commencement of random drug test on Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) players and be further informed that we have now completed all processes for its implementation by the National Anti-Doping Committee”.

It further informed the clubs of some of the requirements for full implementation of the doping checks, stating that “a Doping Control Systems office is to be activated at all NPFL stadium for this purpose and all clubs are therefore mandated to ensure a hitch free tests by the Committee”.

Reiterating that the Test Operatives must not be hindered in carrying out the task, the memo went on to say, “note that relevant operatives of the National Anti-Doping Committee would be arriving your matches for this exercise without prior notice except for purposes of access to the stadium and for your players to submit to the test when demanded”.

The test involves collection of samples from four players two (2) from each team. The four (4) players will be selected by target testing in line with the International Standard for Testing and Investigation and the FIFA Anti-Doping Rules.

The NPFL insists that it set out to implement the exercise in furtherance of the zero tolerance for doping by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), CAF and FIFA.

Kits for the tests arrived the country recently and selected operatives have since undergone training on its application.