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By Oscar Okhifo
Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye, has commended players in the league for their commitment to staying drug free, describing it as a major step in preserving the integrity of Nigerian football.
Elegbeleye, who has been at the forefront of the NPFL’s anti-doping campaign, noted that recent tests carried out on players yielded clean results, an outcome he said underscores the professionalism and discipline of the athletes.
He revealed that the league had introduced random doping tests in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to ensure players remain compliant with global standards.
According to him, the initiative is not only to detect offenders but also to deter the use of banned substances among footballers.
“We are happy that our players have shown great discipline by staying drug free. This is encouraging and speaks volumes about the character of our league. We will continue to conduct random tests to maintain a clean, fair and competitive environment,” Elegbeleye said.
The NPFL first introduced random doping tests in the 2023/24 season after acquiring testing kits from the United Kingdom.
The initiative was widely praised as a pioneering step for domestic football in Nigeria.
Earlier this year, Elegbeleye also opened discussions with the NDLEA to strengthen collaboration, leveraging the agency’s national reach and technical capacity to conduct tests.
The league further mandated medical officers across clubs to undergo training on identifying and educating players about banned substances.
The maiden round of tests, described by the NPFL leadership as “unprecedented,” was carried out without any positive cases being reported, a development that reinforced confidence in the system.
Elegbeleye assured that the anti-doping drive would be sustained throughout the current season and beyond, noting that the measure aligns Nigerian football with international best practices and helps safeguard the careers of players.
He added that advisories have been sent to all clubs, urging them to continually sensitize their players on the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs and the penalties attached to violations.