Tokyo 2020: Nigeria’s latest disqualification is a disgrace

Tokyo 2020 Olympics

By Amos Joseph

The disqualification of 10 Nigerian athletes from Tokyo 2020 track and field events is a disgrace.

Let’s be honest. How do you explain taking athletes to a global event such as the Olympics without doing due diligence? How?

The athletes will not grace the stage just because they have not carried out recommended pre-game tests as required by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), a watchdog for World Athletics.

Lest we forget, Nigeria was added to the ‘Category A’ list in 2020 after a “continued period of weak domestic testing levels”, according to the AIU. Being on that list means that Nigeria is among the countries regarded as “high risk” because of the standard of domestic testing arrangements.

Nigeria registered to participate in 10 games at the Olympics with athletics posing a bright spot for medals. But with the fresh news from the AIU, chances of podium finishes may just have been dampened. 

Athletics alone accounts for 13 out of 25 medals won by the county at the games before now.

For an event held every four years, and a notice well served, yet these details were not sorted ahead of time. Plenty of questions begging for answers. 

Top athletes are speaking out already laying the cards on the table of administrators questioning their competence.

“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 flaw and we athletes are always at the receiving end of the damages..

“…they were busy fighting over power, Excercising 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.”

That is what the situation means to 32-year-old Olympic and World Championship medalist, Blessing Okagbare who is in Tokyo said in a tweet. Although she is among the 12 cleared to take to the tracks, what becomes of the fate of the rest?

Earlier in the week, Chioma Onyekwere, a Discus Thrower was reported to have been abandoned in a hotel in Tokyo and was yet to join her mates in the games village. But the country’s Olympic Committee head stated that it was untrue. 

“It has come to our attention that 10 athletes are not eligible to compete in Athletics for Nigeria, including myself. The athletes are not at fault for this. Please we need your help on how we can waive this so all 10 of us can compete. @WorldAthletics @aiu_athletics”, Chioma shared on Twitter.

The athletes are not at fault? Are athletes even aware of their responsibilities while preparing for events? Or should we just lay the blame on the corridors of officials who should know?

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Sports Ministry, the Olympic Committee, and the Athletics Federation are yet to comment on the matter officially.

Apart from the opportunity of winning medals, it will be a waste of years of preparation both for the athletes and the country. The only way to save this from happening in the future is to properly investigate and sanction those who dropped the ball.

Regardless of whatever happens in Tokyo 2020 at the end of the day, this has once again raised the dust on if we have the round pegs in the round holes.

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