The Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN)on Tuesday released Nigeria’s squad list for the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Completesports.com reports.
This year’s Championship will hold from 19 to 27 August.
According to a release from the athletic body, notable Nigerian male athletes like Itshekiri Usheoritshe, Ashe Favour, Seye Ogunlewe, Alaba Akintola, Fakorede Adekalu, Karlington Anunagba, and Enekwechi Chukwuebuka (shot put) were listed.
Also read: 2023 WWC: ‘I’m Sorry’ — England Star James Apologises To Alozie
For the females, Ese Brume, George Patience Okon, Sucess Umukoro, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Ruth Usoro made the cut.
Also included are Deborah Oke, Imaobong Uko, Nse Uko and Pamela Amaechi.
Meanwhile, world record holder in the 100m hurdles Tobi Amusan was not listed due to charges against her by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for missing three doping tests.
Amusan was charged with three missed drug tests in a 12-month span, which can lead up to a two-year suspension even if an athlete never fails a drug test.
At the 2022 World Athletics Championship in Oregon, USA, Nigeria finished joint 13th with one gold and one silver.
Amusan got Nigeria’s only gold in the women’s 100 metres hurdles while Brume won silver in women’s long jump.
By James Agberebi
5 Comments
When will AFN conduct an independent investigation and give us a feedback of what’s really happening? Our champions are been bullied with all sort of accusations prior to top events. First it was Blessing Okagbare then Grace Nwokocha and now Tobi Amusan blamed for failing to meet up for test. Is this latest accusation on Tobi legit??? All 3 girls were at their peak and all 3 have pleaded not guilty I wonder what AFN is doing to help his people. Even Sha Carri Richardson that was caught on drugs has been claimed to have served few months suspension and reinstated dominating female 100m this year yet Nigeria AFN president is playing blind and watch them girls slaughtered by IAAF to deprive us a sure podium place. Is it a crime to be a Nigerian??? Note I’m not in support of cheat but can AFN confirm if there’s no foul play by IAAF to always find fault with Nigeria top talents. We still have Ofili and Brume on their list to haunt down!!! Will AFN remain mute and watch top talents bullied and set up to fail???
Saying this because you can not go to a place like Lagos known for notorious traffic without notice as par anti doping rules and expect to judge an Athlete that she has avoided test. Example If you do this 10 times within a month without notice then the Athlete will likely be late to meet or fail to meet 7 times or more and the reason will be legit because of the conditions in Nigeria. In Nigeria you can hardly work with schedule for a lot of reasons. AFN should at least come out with a report because this trend of suspension must stop for good and if anyone is found cheating after all let us know and the person be shamed for others to learn.
The AIU should have made their decision based on her defences early enough so she knows her fate if she can compete or not. Why wait till close to the competition before they suspend her and then why delay in judging the case.
It’s same tactics they always use to prevent us. That is why they intentionally stalked Amusan to make her seem like she missed a test!
Keep rising PATRIOTS!