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Athletics

OKPEKPE RACE GETS IAAF SILVER LABEL

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The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has been elevated to an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Silver Label event. The good news was conveyed to the promoter of the race, Mike Itemuagbor by Alessio Punzi, the IAAF Road Running Manager.

”Following a thorough review of your application; in recognition of the role played by your event for the promotion of elite road racing in your region, and of your efforts towards the improvement of the technical aspects of the event, the IAAF is happy to inform you that the Okpekpe Road Race 10KM is upgraded to IAAF Silver Label status for 2018”, wrote Punzi in an email to Itemuagbor.

Spokesman for the race, Dare Esan remarked that the organisers of the history-making race are happy about the development.

“We are delighted the IAAF has recognised our leading role in promoting road running in Nigeria and the West African sub-region. The Okpekpe international 10km road race has set the pace for other road races in Nigeria nay West Africa. We are the first road race in West Africa to be designated by the IAAF as one of the leading road races around the world since the classification was introduced in 2008.

 

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For three years since 2015 the race was organised under the prestigious IAAF Road Race Bronze Label and now we are the first road race to be granted a silver label status in West Africa” Esan said.

He revealed the official label certificate signed by the IAAF President, Lord Sebastian Coe has been received by the organisers of the race.

“The success story of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race would not have been possible without the active role played by the Edo State

Government who provided the enabling environment, including a world class tarred road from Auchi to the hilly town of Okpekpe.

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“We are particularly grateful to His Excellencies, Comrade Adam Oshiomole, the immediate past Governor of Edo State under whose watch the race was launched and his successor, Godwin Obaseki whose advice and words of encouragement have made the race better. We are also grateful to the Honourable Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung who availed us of his presence at the fifth edition of the race on May 13 this year”.

Esan believes the roles played by sponsors and media partners of the race as well as the Nigeria Police, the Directorate of State Security (DSS), the Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have been massive.

“Supersports and Channels are our official media partners and they, like the rest of the media have projected the race, the hilly town of Okpekpe, Edo State and indeed Nigeria as a destination of sort in terms of sports.

“We also thank our sponsors led by Ecobank for helping us achieve this historic feat”, Esan added.

The sixth edition of the race which will be technology-driven will hold on Saturday May 12 in Okpekpe in Etsako East Local Government of Edo State.

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“In 2015 we scored another first when we engaged MYLAPS Sports Timing, the internationally recognised automatic sports timing company to provide the race with an easy to use, accurate and reliable timing system.

“Last year we also launched a tracking application to help fans follow the progress of friends, families or any of the participants who ran at the fifth edition of the race last May.

“The tracking application was the first to be launched for a road race in Nigeria and offers mobile features designed to address three core digital needs:

Information delivery, sponsor activation and race day experience.’

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Athletics

Behold, CAS statement on Tobi Amusan

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Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan is the winner as the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS has rejected the appeals filed by World Athletics and  WADA.

The decision confirms the decision taken by the World Athletics disciplinary tribunal finding that Tobi Amusan did not commit any anti-doping rule violation.

Here is the full statement of CAS.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeals filed by

World Athletics (WA) and by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the decision issued on 17 August 2023 (the Challenged Decision) by the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal (WADT) in relation to the hurdler Oluwatobiloba (Tobi) Amusan (Nigeria).

Accordingly, the Challenged Decision in which the WADT considered that Tobi Amusan did not violate Rule 2.4 of the WA Anti-Doping Rules (WA ADR) and that no period of ineligibility should be imposed on the Athlete is confirmed.

The Athlete was initially charged with committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under Rule 2.4 WA ADR following three alleged Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period.

In their respective appeal to CAS, WA and WADA had sought the imposition of a two-year period of ineligibility. The CAS Panel held a hearing on 19 January 2024. Having deliberated, the CAS Panel has issued its decision today dismissing both appeals. The CAS Panel unanimously acknowledged that the Athlete committed two filing failures but did not confirm the existence of a missed test, alleged by WA and WADA, which would have been the third Whereabouts Failure committed within a 12-month

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period. Accordingly, the CAS Panel concluded that the Athlete did not commit an ADRV and that the Challenged Decision should be confirmed.

The reasoned award will be published by CAS unless the parties request confidentiality.

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Athletics

Tobi Amusan floors WADA and World Athletics!

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Tobi Amusan’s Trial Begins Today -

Nigeria’s Paris 2024 medal hopeful, Tobi Amusan has been cleared as the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has dismissed the appeal filed by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the World Athletics.

 She is therefore cleared to feature at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Amusan is the 100m hurdles world record holder.

The athlete  was charged in July last year with missing three anti-doping tests in 12 months but was cleared of the offence by the Disciplinary Tribunal of the sport’s governing body, World Athletics.

The Integrity Unit of the World Athletics appealed the clearance which has now been dismissed by CAS, the final arbiter in the case.

CAS in its statement remarked that its panel “unanimously acknowledged that the athlete committed two filing failures but did not confirm the existence of a missed test, alleged by WA and WADA, which would have been the third Whereabouts Failure committed within 12 months.”

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Amusan set the world record of 12.12 seconds in the world championships in Eugene, Oregon, in July 2022 and went on to win the title.

She finished sixth in the world championships in Budapest last year.

World Athletics’ anti-doping rules say any athlete failing to declare their whereabouts for a doping test on three occasions over 12 months is ineligible to compete for two years.

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Athletics

Tobi Amusan thanks God for success at CAS in doping case

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An elated Nigeria’s 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan has thanked God for her success in an appeal filled against her by the Athletics Integrity Unit  of the World Athletics.

Had the appeal been upheld, ,Amusan would  have has to miss the Paris 2024 Olymoics.

“It’s ALL GOD” Amusan said in an Instagram post alongside the court’s announcement.

Amusan, who broke the world record during her semi-final race at the 2022 world championships, is a hot favourite in her signature event at the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26.

World Athletics and WADA did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

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