Officers of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria have refused to climate their positions on sprinter Favour Ofili being labelled ‘uncontrollable’ by way of an unnamed reputable of the federation over her rumoured plan to change allegiance, The PUNCH studies.
Ofili has been at loggerheads with the AFN and the Nigeria Olympic Committee over its failure to sign up her for the ladies’s 100m match of the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games, the place the rustic returned with out a medal.
Even though the Minister of Sports activities Building, John Enoh, has promised a probe into the subject, the athlete’s dating with the federation turns out to have degenerated.
When contacted concerning the place of the AFN on Ofili’s case, within the wake of the feedback of the unnamed reputable, the Technical Director of the AFN, Samuel Onikeku, declined feedback, tagging the problem arguable, era the president of the federation, Tonobok Okowa, didn’t reply to a number of shouts and WhatsApp messages despatched to him by way of our correspondent.
“It’s an unnamed source, and you want me to comment? You should know by now I don’t dwell on controversies. If it is a technical issue, then I can respond, thanks,” Onikeku mentioned.
In a contemporary document (no longer The PUNCH), the unnamed reputable alleged that Ofili had a monitor file of violating the AFN’s procedures since 2022.
“Ofili is speedy changing into an uncontrollable athlete for the AFN. The largest unhappiness Ofili gave to Nigeria was once her refusal to compete within the semifinal of the 100m on the twenty third African Senior Championships in Douala, Cameroon, in July this yr.
“Our immediate reaction was to stop her and Rosemary Chukwuma, who also stayed away from her 100m semifinal event, from making the team to the Paris Olympics. But the Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh, invited them to his hotel in Douala for discussion even without our knowledge. It became difficult for the AFN to wield the big stick against them.”
In Ofili’s defence, her teacher from Louisiana Shape College, Dennis Shaver, who was once mentioned to had been along with her throughout a few of the ones sessions she reportedly violated AFN laws, denied the allegations of intentionally lacking the African Championships race.
“So it’s not true. Favour informed coaches after multiple start time delays from several warm-ups she would not compete in the final due to feelings of possible injury. This is the fact!” Shaver mentioned by way of X.
Beijing 2008 Olympics silver medallist, Blessing Okagbare, who’s recently serving an 11-year forbid for doping violations, additionally wrote by way of X, “If and when you challenge an authority for negligence and incompetence, they tag you as undisciplined, arrogant, and disrespectful. None of them can even prove how you disrespected them directly. They’re always threatened by the truth.”