A Closer Look at Nigeria’s New National Anti-Doping Law: The Nigeria Anti-Doping Act, 2025
The fight against doping in sports has long been a global concern, with stringent frameworks set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
In 2025, Nigeria took a defining step in this ongoing battle by enacting the Nigeria Anti-Doping Act, 2025, which aims to align Nigerian sports with the highest international standards. Below is a concise exploration of this legislation: its purpose, key provisions, strengths, and the areas that might warrant further attention.
Background and Rationale
Doping in sports undermines the principles of fairness, equality, and athlete welfare and goes beyond the use of performance-enhancing drugs alone.
Doping offences in sports include possession, trafficking, evasion, tampering and even complicity in covering up these offences. Recognising these threats, UNESCO introduced the International Convention Against Doping in Sport in 2005, which many countries, including Nigeria, have now domesticated into their national legal systems.
The Nigeria Anti-Doping Act, 2025, fully adopts this Convention and reinforces the country’s resolve to protect the integrity of sports and the health of its athletes.
Key Objectives of the Act
Domestication of Global Standards
The Act domesticates and gives legal force to the International Convention Against Doping in Sport. In doing so, it binds all relevant authorities, legislative, executive, and judicial, to enforce international anti-doping rules in Nigeria.
Establishment of an Independent Body
The centrepiece of the legislation is the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre (NADC), which is designated as Nigeria’s National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO). It is mandated to implement the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) and relevant International Standards and replace the National Anti-Doping Committee, which previously was responsible for Nigeria’s Anti-Doping compliance.
Protection of Athletes’ Rights
The Act expressly seeks to safeguard athletes’ rights, ensuring they can participate in sports on a level playing field, free from the risks and pressures of performance-enhancing drugs.
Promotion of Ethical Sports Culture
Through monitoring, testing, education, and collaboration with national and international bodies, the law aims to cultivate a sporting culture that upholds fairness, safety, and athletes’ health.
Institutional Framework
Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre (Sections 5–7)
The NADC is established as an independent corporate body, with powers to acquire property, enter into contracts, and, crucially, conduct testing and investigations. Independence is stressed; the Centre’s decisions must be free from undue influence by government bodies or sports organisations—a critical factor for credibility and adherence to WADA standards.
Technical Board (Sections 8–14)
A Technical Board provides strategic direction, policy guidance, and oversight. Comprising experts in law, sports, and anti-doping, the Board ensures that the NADC’s processes align with both national interests and international standards. Members must be free from conflicts of interest—active sports officials, practising athletes, or anyone who has served an anti-doping ban cannot join.
Executive Secretary (Sections 15–16)
The Executive Secretary, appointed by the President upon recommendation and Senate confirmation, is essentially the Centre’s chief operating officer. Tasked with the day-to-day administration and the execution of the Board’s policies, this role is pivotal for the successful running of the anti-doping program.
Adjudication and Enforcement
Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (Sections 20–21)
This body handles the first-level adjudication of doping infractions—investigating and hearing cases of alleged violations. Its independence and operational integrity are guaranteed by law, ensuring fair hearings.
Anti-Doping Appeal Tribunal (Sections 22–24)
If an athlete, coach, or federation disagrees with a decision of the Disciplinary Panel, they can appeal to the Tribunal. This two-tier system bolsters legal certainty and fairness, mirroring best practices in global anti-doping adjudication. By this Act, this body shall be domiciled at the Ministry of Justice.
Offences and Penalties (Section 33)
The Act categorises doping-related offences, ranging from refusal to cooperate with the Centre’s investigations to more serious violations such as trafficking in banned substances, administering performance-enhancing drugs without a therapeutic use exemption, or tampering with doping control processes. Penalties include:
- Fines: Ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦1,000,000.
- Imprisonment: Up to three years for severe offences.
- Professional Licence Revocation: Particularly for health professionals who facilitate illegal doping.
- Corporate Sanctions: Companies or clubs may face deregistration.
Importantly, these penalties are separate from sanctions under sports governing bodies. Hence, offenders might face both legal consequences (fines or imprisonment) and sporting sanctions (bans or disqualifications).
Strengths and Advantages
Alignment with WADA Code
By adopting internationally recognised regulations, Nigeria ensures its sports are on par with global best practices and minimises the risk of sanctions from international governing bodies.
Institutional Independence
The law’s emphasis on operational autonomy for both the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre and its disciplinary structures helps preserve integrity and public trust.
Comprehensive Coverage
Extending obligations beyond just athletes to include support personnel, sports federations, and medical professionals closes key loopholes that might otherwise be exploited.
Clear Governance and Oversight
Clear roles for the Technical Board and the Executive Secretary help prevent governance gaps, while robust financial provisions ensure transparency and accountability.
Deterrence through Penalties
The existence of direct criminal penalties, coupled with potential lifetime bans from sports, serves as a strong deterrent against doping practices.
Possible Areas for Enhancement
Despite its many strengths, a few areas might merit further legislative refinement or careful implementation:
- Whistleblower Protections: Effective doping investigations often rely on insider information. The Act would benefit from explicit whistleblower safeguards that protect informants from retaliation.
- Data Privacy and Security: Although the Act mandates confidentiality, a more detailed framework on managing sensitive medical and personal data could further strengthen athletes’ privacy rights.
- Youth Athlete Provisions: While “protected persons” are mentioned, additional clarity around safeguarding minors in competitive sports, such as mandatory parental guidance and specialised testing protocols, would be helpful.
- Sustainable Funding Model: Although the Act details various funding sources, reliance on grants and donations may not guarantee consistent operations. Establishing a dedicated budget line or multi-year appropriation could anchor the Centre’s financial stability.
- Public Education: The law calls for education programs, but the extent and depth of these are left somewhat open. Clear requirements for national awareness campaigns and grassroots outreach could ensure that doping prevention starts at early sporting levels.
Conclusion
The Nigeria Anti-Doping Act, 2025 is a landmark piece of legislation that modernises the country’s sports sector and aligns it with international anti-doping standards. Clearly defining institutional responsibilities, outlining strict penalties for offences, and ensuring an independent adjudication system promises a future of greater integrity in Nigerian sports. A few targeted improvements, particularly around whistleblower protections, data privacy, youth athlete safeguards, and funding mechanisms, would enhance its effectiveness further.
Nonetheless, the new law stands as a significant step forward, reflecting Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding athletic competition and maintaining the health and rights of its athletes. With a robust implementation strategy and close collaboration among all stakeholders, the Act has the potential to elevate Nigerian sports on the global stage and help ensure that fair play remains at the heart of competition.
