In a statement posted on its website, WADA accused Nigeria’s NADC, along with those of Venezuela and Tunisia, of non-compliance with the Code during the executive committee meeting held last Thursday in Montreal, Canada. WADA emphasized that the Nigerian NADC has not addressed essential requirements identified in an audit conducted by WADA in late 2022 (October 19-20, 2022).

The statement from WADA to NADO partly read, “The Nigeria NADO will be ineligible to host any event hosted or organised or co-hosted or co-organised by WADA.

“The Nigeria NADO’s representatives will be ineligible to participate in any WADA Independent Observer Program or WADA Outreach Program or other WADA activities.

“The Nigeria NADO will not receive any WADA funding (either directly or indirectly) relating to the development of specific activities or participation in specific programs.

“Nigeria’s flag will not be flown at regional, continental and World Championships, and events, organised by major event organisations (other than the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games), until the reinstatement conditions set out below are met.”

If implemented, this punishment could prevent Nigerian athletes who qualify for the upcoming Paris Olympics in 2024 from representing the country under its flag.

 The deadline for compliance is set for December 8, and failure to meet it may result in Nigerian athletes participating as neutral athletes without the national anthem being played in case of medal wins.

This situation draws parallels to Russia’s four-year (2019-2023) ban imposed by WADA, preventing Russian athletes from participating under their national flag and anthem due to doping-related issues.

Russian athletes who were cleared of doping could only compete under a neutral flag and without their national anthem.