Nigeria Olympic Committee President Habu Gumel has mandated the newly-inaugurated Medical and Scientific Commission to ensure any medals won by the country at this month’s African Games in Rabat are done so cleanly ©Getty Images

Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President Habu Gumel has mandated the newly-inaugurated Medical and Scientific Commission to ensure any medals won by the country at this month’s African Games in Rabat are done so cleanly.

As reported by the New Telegraph, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Gumel claimed at the inauguration that the NOC would work hand-in-hand with the Commission in keeping Nigerian athletes physically and psychologically ready for the 12th edition of the Games, due to take place from August 19 to 31.

"On our part, the NOC will continue to work hard within the limits of our ability and resources for continuous promotion of the noble Olympic ideals and specifically support the worthy initiatives of the Medical and Scientific Commission," Gumel was reported as saying by the New Telegraph.

Festus Osoba, chairman of the Sports Medicine and Scientific Committee, stated that the Commission had already published a booklet, entitled Medical and Scientific Commission tips to optimal athletic performance, to be shared among National Federations and athletes.

"We are here to ensure that the Nigeria Olympic Committee complies with the IOC regulations concerning the participation of athletes in the competition, that is to ensure they are aware of substances that can make them be disqualified," he said.

"Medications can be prescribed innocently, but it can be listed as a banned substance.

"Our duty is to ensure that all the federations and athletes are aware of all doping rules and regulations."

The 2019 African Games are due to take place in Morocco's capital Rabat from August 19 to 31 ©Rabat 2019
The 2019 African Games are due to take place in Morocco's capital Rabat from August 19 to 31 ©Rabat 2019

The NOC Executive Board also gathered to strategise on the plans for the participation of Nigeria at Rabat 2019.

The meeting was attended by the Presidents of the 22 national governing bodies scheduled to feature at the African Games.

In February, Nigeria was reinstated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) following a short period of non-compliance.

The Nigerian National Anti-Doping Committee (NNADC) was declared non-compliant by WADA in November because of structural issues related to its testing procedure.

WADA confirmed in a statement, however, that the issues had been corrected and the country had been removed from the list of non-complaint signatories.

The lifting of the sanctions on Nigeria was confirmed following a circular vote of the 12-member WADA Executive Committee, which has the final say on issues of compliance.

WADA said at the time the non-compliance was announced that it was confident the nation would resolve its problems quickly and that the NNADC's non-compliance would be short.