The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Obudu International Mountain Race says “random in-competition doping control” will be employed during the 9th edition of the race slated for the Obudu Ranch Resort on November 23.
Cross River State Sports Commissioner, Patrick Ugbe, a member of the LOC, in a media briefing disclosed that the committee, in conjunction with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will carry out full doping control for the race which has become one of the most anticipated events in the calendar of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA).
“The LOC will cooperate with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) official in Nigeria who will customarily conduct the exercise,” Ugbe said.
“This is an annual ritual carried out at the race because of its status. The Obudu mountain race has the largest total prize-money available of any mountain race and is known as ‘The World’s Richest Mountain Race’. So we have to conform to international practice that random in-competition doping control must be carried out.”
He further stated that the tests will include detection for the use of prohibited substances like anabolic agents which includes but not limited to stanozolol, tetrahydrogestrinone, mehandienone, testosterone and prostanozol as well as some growth hormones.
“Apart from the prohibited substances, prohibited methods like blood doping including the use of autologous, homologous or heterologous blood or red blood cell products of any origin will also be tested,” added Ugbe.
The commissioner expressed his delight over the clean slate the competition has kept in terms of doping since its inception in 2005.
