CWG Trials 2026: Okowa warns athletes against doping
By Uzor Odigbo
The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, has welcomed participating athletes to the 2026 All Nigeria Athletics Championships/National trials holding this weekend in Lagos.
In a statement endorsed by the AFN’s Media Coordinator, Dr. Kolawole Oredipe, President Okowa, acknowledged the large number of entries for both the foreign and Nigerian-based athletes for various track and field events taking place between Saturday, 20th and Monday, 22nd June, 2026 at the Yabatech Sports Complex, Yaba, Lagos.
Chief Okowa urged the athletes to be safety conscious, avoid doping issues, respect the rules guiding the games and maintain discipline and professionalism on and off the competition venue.
The AFN President who said he is delighted with the current form of the athletes that have produced great results in recent times, expressed the hope that most of them will drop new records and personal best during the 3-day competition.
He said: “I want to welcome our valued athletes, both foreign and Nigerian-based to Lagos for the national trial. We are delighted to host you all and urge you to put in your best behaviour. You must be watchful, observe safety and security protocols, maintain discipline and professionalism. Our technical officials will be fair to all and deliver to World Athletics standards. Compete fairly and I encourage you to bring up your very best in your respective events. We want to see new records and personal best from you.”
Chief Okowa, appreciated the Athletics Associations of the various states, different Athletics clubs, other organisations and coaches that are fielding athletes in the trials and assured them that selection of Nigeria’s representatives in different events to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next month would be based on merits, performances and current forms.
While thanking the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and other partners for the immense support of the trials, he urged lovers of sports particularly athletics to troop to Yabatech Sports Complex to watch scintillating races, throws and jumps and cheer up top Nigerian athletics stars.
