Sports minister promises sanctions after blunder denies Olympics star place in 100m
An Olympic sprinter has been denied a place in the 100 metres due to an apparent administration error.
Nigeria sports minister John Enoh has promised sanctions after sprinter Favour Ofili was denied a place in the 100 metres at the Olympics. Ofili hit out at team chiefs earlier this week after they allegedly failed to enter her into the event, despite the fact she had qualified.
Ofili is one of Nigeria’s best sprinters and won silver in the 200m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
She was also part of the Nigeria team that won the gold medal in the 4 x 100 metres at the Alexander Stadium before they were disqualified after Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha was found guilty of doping.
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On Tuesday, Ofili took to X and wrote: “It is with great regret that I have just been told I will not be competing in the 100 meters at this Olympic Games.
“I qualified, but those with the AFN (Athletics Federation of Nigeria) and NOC (Nigeria Olympic Committee) failed to enter me. I have worked for 4 years to earn this opportunity. For what?”
In a separate post, the 21-year-old continued: “Please remember, in the last Olympic Games I was not able to compete because AFN, NADC (Nigeria's National Anti-Doping Committee) and NOC failed to release funds for athletes to be tested, which made 14 Nigeria athletes that qualified to not compete. Now THIS.”
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And in a third post, she added: “If those responsible are NOT held accountable for taking this opportunity from me, neither organisation can EVER be trusted in the future! Next one is the 200 meters. I HOPE I’M ENTERED.”
Ofili appears to have been done a disservice by Nigeria’s Olympic bosses and her pleas have drawn the attention of Enoh, who has vowed to investigate the matter.
“I reached out to the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN),” he said in a signed statement. “I am in touch with the president of the NOC on this and await his explanation.
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“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 100m Olympic heats get underway on Friday at the Stade de France in Paris, with the semi-finals and final scheduled for Saturday evening.
USA star Sha'Carri Richardson is the overwhelming favourite to land the gold medal, while Saint Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred and Jamaican athlete Shericka Jackson have also been tipped to be in the mix for silverware.
