Weightlifting body handles doping with steel glove

Nigerian weightlifting federation is bile-bitter over past ''embarrassing occurences in the body.'' It is not sulking over the seemingly dwindling fortunes of the game in terms of performance. What seems a its on their skin, is the long list of banned lifters following records of drug abuse and use by lifters.

It against this background that the federation has decided that, the fight against drugs use by Nigerian lifters, would be handled with ''steel gloves.'' To get started, the federation rose from its maiden meeting last week, with the decision to establish a Medical Committee, with the major responsibility of ensuring that, lifters would be under ''very close surveillance and monitoring before, during and even after camping sessions.''

Speaking with nigeriasports.com in Lagos after the session, Secretary-General of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Mr Steeve Olarinoye stated that, the Committee is to be headed by the Chief Medical man of the Sports Ministry, Dr Amao. He stressed that Dr Amao's choice was basically based on the fact that, ''he is versed in handling cases of drugs use by athletes.''

"Our choice of Dr Amao is not sentimental; rather it is based on our conviction that, he is competent to handle the situation. He is a very versed person and has travelled and attended quite a number of Anti-Doping Seminars around the world; and such a person should be given his due respect and place in the scheme of affairs.

"He is worth his salt and he knows his onions. Close to 10 of our lifters had been banned by the world body during competitions and this is not good for the image of our country. This is what we intend to fight against aside our desire to lift the game to its rightful position in the continent and the world in general," Olarinoye explained.