The Senate, at plenary on Thursday, approved the Anti-Doping Bill, transmitted by President Bola Tinubu in May.
The legislation, which aims to regulate the use of performance-enhancing substances in sports within Nigeria, provides a legal framework for the establishment of the National Anti-Doping Organisation, an organisation that regulates sporting competitions.
The executive legislation with the title, “A bill for an Act to Domesticate and Enforce in Nigeria the International Convention against Doping in Sports, Establish the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre to Implement Nigeria’s Obligation to the World Anti-Doping Code International Standards and for Related Matters, 2024,” was read for the third time following the red chamber’s consideration of the report of the Committee on Sports Development, and Human Rights and Legal Matters on Thursday.
The bill sought to domesticate and enforce in Nigeria the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) convention against doping in sports.
President Tinubu had urged the Senate to expeditiously consider and pass the bill before the Olympic Games seminar scheduled to be held in Paris in July to enable Nigerians to partake in the competition.
He explained that the establishment of the agency was a requirement for Nigeria to achieve compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code.
The World Anti-Doping Code (Code) is the core document that harmonises anti-doping policies, rules, and regulations within sports organisations and among public authorities around the world.
The President noted that the law will help Nigeria avoid the imposition of signatory consequences and the inclusion of laws regarding hosting and participating rights at regional, continental, and world championships or major athletic events.
“By the provisions of Section 58 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I forward herewith the National Anti-Doping Bill 2024 for the kind consideration of the Senate.
“The National Anti-Doping Bill 2024 seeks to create an administratively independent National Anti-Doping Organisation, which is a cardinal requirement for Nigeria to achieve compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the international standard for code compliance by signatories.
“The enactment of this vital legislation will also help Nigeria avoid the imposition of signatory consequences, the inclusion of laws of hosting and participating rights at regional, continental, and world championships or major athletic events,” Tinubu added.
“I hope that this submission will receive the humankind expeditious consideration of the distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for passage of the same into law before the Olympic Games seminar in Paris in July 2024. Please accept, distinguished President, the assurances of our highest consideration,” the President wrote in a letter to the President.
