The Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development Niger State, Hon. Yusuf Suleiman has sternly warned athletes that will represent the state in the forthcoming 20th National Sports Festival in Asaba to shun all forms of performance enhancing substances that can bring ridicule to the North Central state.
Suleiman gave the warning while addressing the athletes at the state handball complex in Minna while declaring open a training camp exercise for the athletes as part of preparations for the bi-annual multi-sports fiesta.
He warned the athletes to stay away from drugs because it will not give them any advantage but rather harm them and also hinders their development in their respective sports.
“Stay free, be active and be passionate about the sport you do,” he said.
The Commissioner who disclosed that he was deployed to the ministry about a month ago, saw that there was no camping programme in the list of activities for the festival, and felt it will be improper to participate in such a national event without camping.
He observed that the camping exercise will afford the athletes a better training opportunity and prepare fully for the event, urging the athletes to make good use of the camping exercise to equip themselves with relevant skills that will enable them to compete favourably in the festival.
He disclosed that funds for the camping were sourced outside the state government pocket and appealed to the athletes to appreciate the little camping allowances they can afford, adding that they intended to make it a close camping exercise but for lack of funds they decided to make it an open one.
Responding on behalf of the athletes, Femi Tunji who will be participating in the handball event for the state, appreciated the Commissioner and other management staff of the ministry as well as the state government for the gesture, promising that they will do their best to ensure that the state competes favourably in the festival.
Niger State is expected to participate in the festival with about 96 athletes.
