- Share on Facebook
- Share on Twitter
After reports emerged on Wednesday, September 9, that Nigeria’s sprint queen Blessing Okagbare was banned from participating in the Rio 2016 Olympics Games for Team Nigeria, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has come out to deny those reports.
The AFN, in a statement signed by Olukayode Thomas, a member of the board of AFN and head of Communication and Media denied reports that National Sports Commission (NSC) and AFN banned Okagbare from attending next year’s sport festival.
Okagbare was reportedly banned from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after she opted out of the 200m event in Beijing claiming she was she was injured despite already warming up.
The AFN’s statement reads in part on saharareporterssports.com: “ Why would a reporter report that Okagbare has banned from the Rio Olympics and will not attribute such an important story to a staff of NSC or AFN ? The story is not true.’’
“Even if Okagbare has done something and we intend to punish her, the secretary General will first write her a letter inviting her to face disciplinary committee where she will defend herself against the allegation. After a fair hearing, the disciplinary committee will make a recommendation to the board, and the board will now decide.”
The AFN said Okagbare can only be banned from the 2016 games by the NSC headed by Mallam Alhassan Yakmut if she is summoned to a hearing. The AFN also claimed that Okagbare was not guilty of all accusations leveled at her.
Meanwhile, Okagbare has sworn to come back stronger in 2016 Olympics in Rio after a disappointing showing at the World Athletics Championship last month.
In a message posted on her Facebook wall, she recalled that earlier this season she was able to record a 10.98 seconds in the 100 metres in the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shaghai, China on May 17.
Her ban is a huge set-back for a really promising career.
No comments:
Post a Comment