Oluranti Lajide, the Table Tennis Chief Referee at the 18th National Sports Festival which began on Tuesday in Lagos has warned against gambling at the venue of the competition.

Lajide handed down the warning on Tuesday at a meeting with the various states' team leaders for the festival held at the Knock-Up Hall of the National Stadium,Lagos.

"Any table tennis players or official caught gambling within the arena of the table tennis competition would be disqualified.

"Gambling in any form within the game's arena has been banned and any player or official caught would be handed over to the security agencies for prosecution.

"Gambling is not synonymous with table tennis and should not be allowed to tarnish the good image of the sport," he said.