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Nigerian star athlete Blessing Okagbare, has reacted after she was disqualified from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for doping, calling out sports administrators in Nigeria.
Okagbare’s suspension comes barely 48 hours after 10 other Nigerian athletes were disqualified from the Olympics for failing to meet the minimum testing requirements under Rule 15 governing the National Anti-Doping Federation.
Jumper Ruth Usoro, Sprinter Favour Ofili and eight other Nigerian athletes were on Wednesday disqualified from the track and field events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Aside Usoro and Ofili, others affected were Chioma Onyekwere (discus), Annette Echikunwoke (hammer), Chidi Okezie (4X400m mixed relays), Knowledge Omovoh (4x100m women), Rosemary Chukwuma (100m), Glory Patrick (4X400m mixed relays), Yinka Ajayi (4X400m mixed relays) and Tima Godless (4X100m relays).
Reacting, Okagbare had said that the sport system in Nigeria is flawed and that athletes are always at the receiving end of the damages.
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Lamenting that athletes are being neglected, Okagbare noted that those who are not passionate about sports should not handle the administrative positions.
She said, “I have said it before and I will say it again. If you do not know the sport, not passionate about it/us (the athletes), then you have no business there as an administrator. The sport system in Nigeria is so flawed and we athletes are always at the receiving end of the damages.
“They were busy fighting over power, exercising their pride over puma contract/kits forgetting their major responsibility “THE ATHLETES”. It’s sad that this cycle keeps repeating its self and some people will come out to say I am arrogant for speaking my truth. It is my CAREER.”
Source: Punch
This post was written by Obiajulu Joel Nwolu.
The views expressed here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect our views and opinions.