With the commencement of the 7th National Youth Games tagged “Asaba 2023” close at hand, the Main Organizing Committee and the Local Organizing Committee have reiterated their commitment to stamping out age cheats and doping in the annual cadet sports fiesta.
The Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa, in an interview with journalists in Asaba on Saturday, said the National Youth Games was instituted to develop young athletes across the nation towards improving on Nigeria’s standing in the global sports community.
Chief Okowa, who is also the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the Games, said to this end, the LOC had instituted procedures to checkmate age cheats and doping at the games, noting that the modalities would be engaged during the Youth Games in Asaba.
He described age cheats at the Youth Games as those trying to turn back the hands of time when they should be moving forward, asserting that competing at the Youth Games by age cheats would not give them the platform to excel but rather ridicule them as they would be disgraced when caught, thereby debilitating their career growth.
The renowned sports administrator also warned coaches who engage in administering banned substances to their athletes towards enhancing their performances to desist as the organizers of the Games would hand them and the athletes concerned heavy sanctions which could hamper the development of such athletes.
He enjoined the various state contingents taking part in the 7th National Youth Games to compete clean and fair, stressing that the games was all about development. He said that though someone would emerge winner, it would not stop those athletes who failed to win a medal from becoming future champions.
The 7th National Youth Games will commence on 20 September with the arrival of the various contingents while the opening ceremony is on 23 September at the iconic Steven Keshi International Stadium, Asaba.
