NSC launches Integrity Unit to combat age cheating

The National Sports Commission has formally launched an Integrity Unit on Tuesday as part of its ongoing reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s zero-tolerance stance on ethical misconduct in sports, The PUNCH reports.

The development follows the recently concluded Council of Sports meeting in Calabar in November, where key decisions were taken to revitalise the country’s sports development drive.

According to the NSC, the establishment of the IU, is a direct follow-up to the NSC securing approval from the National Council of Sports to “criminalise and institutionalise sanctions against age falsification in Nigerian sports”.

They added that unit is intended to provide a more structured approach in combating unethical practices across the sporting sector.

Speaking on the initiative, the Director General of the commission, Bukola Olopade, said the unit will collaborate closely with all sports federations, the anti-doping unit, athletes, and the Elite and Podium board.

“The Chairman, Shehu Dikko and myself are very committed to institutionalising this reform because it will solve most of the problems Nigeria has been battling with in Sports at the international level for many years,” Olopade said.

He added that the unit would ensure Nigeria consistently aligns with global best practices in terms of both age integrity and anti-doping compliance.

“The Integrity Unit will ensure Nigeria at all times is in line with global best practices with the quality of athletes we present for international competitions in terms of both age integrity and doping conduct,” he explained.

Olopade further stressed the symbolic and strategic significance of the initiative, noting, “As a top sporting country with rich history in major international sporting competitions, we want to lay a very good foundation for our integrity profile to be very strong in the eyes of international Sports organisations.”

He also highlighted that the Integrity Unit forms a core part of the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy, championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as a means of strengthening governance and accountability within the country’s sports sector.

The NSC said the unit will play a central role in safeguarding Nigeria’s sporting reputation and ensuring that athletes meet the highest ethical standards at both national and international levels.