The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has reacted after Nigerian sprinter, Favour Ofili, blamed the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for her omission in the women’s 100m event at the Olympics.
Last night, the sprinter
disclosed that she will not be competing in the 100-metre race at the ongoing
Olympics in Paris after the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Nigeria
Olympic Committee, NOC, and the National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC) failed to
register her for the event and cost her the opportunity. Read the previous
report here.
Reacting in a statement on
Wednesday, the minister condemned the gross negligence that led to the incident
and vowed to probe her exclusion from the race.
See the full statement by the
minister below:
On July 28, 2024, as Minister
of Sports Development, I visited and
addressed Team Nigeria athletes at the Games Village in Paris. It was a no
holds barred session. Thereafter, I had my usual personal interaction with the
athletes to allow them to express their concerns directly to me, which has been
my tradition as Minister of Sports. In addition, I have continued to encourage
athletes to reach me directly on any concerns.
In hindsight, when Ofili had
issues at the African Championships in Douala, I reached out to get her side of
the story, and this time, it hasn’t been different. Favour Ofili reached me
directly, expressing her concern for her races.
Immediately I called Professor
Ken Anugweje, the lead of the Ministerial Podium Performance Committee, to
ensure that Ofili’s issues are thoroughly addressed. He got back to me shortly
after to say he was in touch with the 1st Vice President of NOC, Chief Solomon
Ogba, and that the matter was being handled.
Upon hearing Ofili’s distress
this morning, I reached out to the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN). The
Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, stated categorically that Favour Ofili was
registered for the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay.
The Secretary General of AFN
has also insisted that the final list forwarded by her to NOC (the only body
the International Olympic Committee receives the final list of athletes
from),had Ofili listed for the 100m as well. I am in touch with the President of
the NOC on this and await his explanation.
Ofili has been in the top eight
at the World Championships. She is a Commonwealth Games silver medalist, an
African Games champion, a former World U20 champion, and an African Senior
Athletics Championships champion in the 200m.
As Minister of Sports, I will
not tolerate this utter recklessness. It is highly inexcusable, and there will
be thorough sanctions after investigations into where and from whom this gross
negligence originated. All parties must take their duties very seriously. The
current way of operating the Federal Ministry of Sports Development does not
allow for incompetence at any level.
As an immediate measure, the
Athletic Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee must ensure that
Favour Ofili is not deprived of the opportunity to compete in the races for
which she is qualified and registered to represent the country at the Paris
Olympics. She is committed to proving her mettle.
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