By Andrew Abah
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has distanced itself from the current two year ban handed Imaobong Nse Uko by the Integrity Unit of World Athletics for doping violations for committing three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period a violation of anti-doping regulations.
The AFN, explained that the whereabout filling is the responsibility of any elite athlete, “Athletes are required to provide the following whereabouts information on a quarterly basis.”
Home address, Email address, Phone number, An address for overnight accommodations.
Regular activities, such as training, work, and school, the locations and the times of these activities.
The Federation stated that her failure to do the needful is the reason why she was handed a two years ban which expires in July 2026.
“Athletes are role models and they have an important responsibility to protect the integrity of their sport. Providing whereabouts is about protecting the athlete’s right to clean sport.”
You can be tested by relevant National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs), International Federations (IFs) and Major Event Organizations (MEOs). And AFN can’t conduct a Whereabout test.
“It’s the International Federations and National Anti-Doping Organizations that are responsible for determining if you are required to provide whereabouts information or not, it’s not part of its duties.
However, the AFN will continue to carry out its drug advocacy campaign to the athletes, coaches and technical officials involved in the business.
The last of such seminars took place during the just concluded National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged Gateway Games 2024 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South-West, Nigeria.
The AFN insist that it will stick to its due diligent in communicating Anti-doping rules to athletes through its doping department headed by Professor Ken Anugweje.
The Federation emphasized that athlete discipline is crucial and that the Federation will continue to spread anti-doping principles to athletes.
Imaobong Uko was given a 2-year ban for Whereabouts Filing Failure.
Whereabout Filing is the responsibility of each athlete and the platform is so simple that every clean athlete can file their whereabouts without stress.
Where the athletes is having issues with whereabouts, they reach out to the Federation who in turn take it up with the NADC and from the chat that process was followed but the athletes on her part still need to update her whereabouts
Notice of whereabouts filing is sent to all athletes regularly and Imaobong was sent several notices both from AFN and NADC so she should own up to her responsibility and not blame the Federation.
However, the Federation is organizing Anti-Doping Seminars regularly where Topics such as Whereabouts Filing, TUE (Therapeutic Use Exception) Anti-Doping Rule Violations etc are regularly taught.
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The AFN is constantly working to ensure all our athletes compete clean hence we are organizing Anti-Doping Seminars and more Testing. Athletes should endeavor to join the AFN campaign for a Clean Sport online with WADA and AIU
The Federation is also appealing to the media to help disseminate, it’s drug awareness advocacy programs and campaign as it will go a long way in helping our athletes and the sport of athIetics
