Monitor athletes use of performance-enhancing drugs- Ex-Olympian
Winning through the use of banned drugs is not victory but cheating and as such it does not offer a level-playing ground for all to compete, Adio said.
A former Olympian, Hameed Adio, has appealed to coaches in Nigeria to help monitor, educate and guide young athletes on the dangers inherent in the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Adio explained on Wednesday in Ilorin that the damaging effects of drugs to personal health, as well as national image, cannot be quantified.
Supreme reports that the 63-year-old former sprinter competed in the men's 100 metres at the 1980 Summer Olympics and was also captain of the Nigerian delegation to the Games.
"I appeal to all our wonderful coaches to please monitor, educate and guide our young athletes on the dangers inherent in the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
"Apart from the risk to health, the damaging effects to personal, state or even national image cannot be quantified.
"Winning through the use of banned drugs is not victory but cheating and as such it does not offer a level-playing ground for all to compete,'' Adio said.
The former sports broadcaster with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) said there were many examples in history where world stars have been stripped of medals won illegally.
"I cannot forget in a hurry that fateful day at the Seoul 1988 Olympics when before our eyes Canadian superstar Ben Johnson was bundled out of the Olympic Games Village.
"Johnson got stripped of the 100 metres gold medal and in disgrace was bundled into the next available plane back home for ingestion of performance-enhancing drugs,'' Adio said.
He explained that there is joy in performing clean in all forms of sports after all, apart from winning medals and making money (as the case is now).
"Sports is pure recreation and entertainment," Adio pointed out.
Supreme recalls that Adio, apart from becoming the the General Manager (Sports) at the NTA, also served as Commissioner of Sports in Kwara.