Monday, June 6, 2011

Ajunwa Fights Against Drugs In Sports



Olympic gold medalist, Chioma Ajuwan Oparah, who started a campaign fighting against the use of drugs by athletes, has reiterated the need for Nigeria athletes to shun drugs saying it will destroy their career,
In a paper presented to the athletes at the end of the AFN/Desicon Golden League 4th meeting at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos state during the weekend and titled “The Disadvantages Of Taking Of illegal Drugs In Sports”, Ajunwa said being her 5th presentation in the series since she started the foundation, fighting drugs has become a part of her as it will help the athletes tremendously.
While revealing some drugs commonly use by the athletes such as Alcohol, Amphetamines, Anabolic Steroids, Caffeine, Cannabis, Cocaine, Ecstasy, Inhalants, Nicotine, Opiates, Phencyclidine, Seductive, Hypnotic or Atntianxiety drugs, Ajunwa maintained that all these drugs are all common with sports people.
Using herself as an example, Ajunwa advised that it is more honorable to lose without doping than to indulge in drugs abuse, all in the quest to win because when caught, such athletes will be on their own as the government and nobody will come to their aid.
The Nigeria Police Officer advised that to reduce or terminate the adverse effects of doping, drug education testing programs on its abuse should be intensified by various global agencies.
She also said government should make it a priority to test athletes before embarking on any international competition and also to look into the possibilities of applying stiffer penalties as a deterrent to athletes and official involved in it.
She concluded by saying athletes should note that it is only in drugs issues that there are no “advantage, everything about illegal drug abuse in sports is disadvantageous.”

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