DOPING IN SPORTS; DIPLOMACY OR DUPLICITY?

Abstract

The Rio Olympics (2016) ended with USA leading the medal table. against, realities
on the loose position of the international community on the use and abuse of drugs
by the athletes came to the front burner. Good enough one would say the near total
ban on Russian athletes and the Paralympics of Russia was welcoming and strong
indicator to other nations. However, beside the ban, what other punishment is placed
on drug offenders in sport? Drug abuse is considered an unacceptable societal
menace and virtually all countries have passed various legislations prescribing
punishments for offenders and culprits alike. Yet the use or abuse of drugs by the
sportsmen and women seems to provide unwritten exception to the rules. This paper
hence seeks to examine the attitude of the world athletes’ bodies and international
community on the treatment of drug offenders whether locally or internationally. This
paper shall consider the legal frame work (if any) in African jurisprudence in relation
to doping and other sports related offences however inquisitorial and seeks to awaken
the legal community’s consciousness to the double standard position of the
international community on the treatment of drug offenders. It recommends the
domestication of these doping laws into our local legislations in order to have a
standard legislation.