Nigeria’s successful outing at the last All African Games in Congo Brazzaville has been rubbished with the discovery that eight athletes tested positive to banned drugs.
Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, who confirmed this in Abuja on Thursday, said the athletes have been banned for between four to eight years.
Team Nigeria came second behind Egypt at the Games held in September, 2015.
The athletes involved are: Deborah Odeyemi, Chinazom Amadi, Samson Idiata, (athletics) Sunday Ezeh (Para-athletics) Thomas Kure (Para-lifting) Patient Opuene (wrestling) Ebi James Igbadiwei another wrestler got four years ban.
Elizabeth Owuah, a weightlifter has been banned for eight years.
“Concerning the news that is in public domain that some of our athletes tested positive of course, it is true.
“About five medals, have been indicted and tested positive and that take us to why we are meeting here because we want to intensify advocacy on the issue of anti-doping
“This doping has to do with nutrition of an athlete it is very important to do more advocacy on sport so when we get to Rio we will not have this instances again,” the minister said.
