Athletics

All set for 7th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, 10km race returns

Published

3 years ago

February 11, 2022

Spectacular performances are expected to form the highlights of the 7th edition of the world’s fastest-growing road race, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon set to hold sway in Lagos on Saturday, February 12, 2022.

The traditional take-off point for the Silver-label race remains the iconic National Stadium, Surulere as with past editions of the race.

This was revealed at the World Press Conference held at the Access Bank Towers in Oniru on Friday which had in attendance top sponsors, organisers of the event, athletes, members of the press, as well as some of the country’s top sports administrators.

They include the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria Tonobok Okowa; Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) Sola Aiyepeku; DG of LSSC Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan; First Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Solomon Ogba; Head of Communications and External Affairs, Access Bank, Amaechi Okobi: Chief Consultant Access Bank Marathon Bukola Olopade; General Manager Access Bank Marathon Yusuf Alli; General Manager Marketing, 7Up Segun Ogunleye: course Measurer Norrie Williamson, and a host of others.

In his address, AFN President Okowa lauded the giant strides the marathon has made since its inception seven years ago.

He said: “I want to give kudos to Access Bank and the other sponsors for the good work they are doing to sustain the marathon.

“After just two editions, the marathon was given a bronze label so we should appreciate them for this. Tomorrow we are going to witness another good performance from the athletes and I’m sure we are going to be very proud of them.”

On his part, the LSSC Chairman reiterated the support of the Lagos State Government: “It’s a privilege for me to have been a part of the Access Bank Marathon from the planning stage, down to implementation, and here we are at the seventh edition.

“I want to say well done to Nilayo and thank you to our sponsors. Your patience and incremental investment has not gone unnoticed. The strides being made by the marathon is a total buy-in for Lagos State, and we will do everything to ensure it continues”, he said.

In his charge to the athletes and participants, Mr Okobi urged them to be well prepared for the race and to stay hydrated whilst pushing themselves to do the impossible.

Chief Consultant of the marathon Bukola Olopade thanked the sponsors for their continued support and commended Williamson’s dedication towards the continued success of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

General Manager of the race Yusuf Alli disclosed that the 10km race was making a return after being suspended at the last edition due to Covid-19 protocols, and that spy cameras would be in use at this edition of the race.

Athletics

Record 6000 runners register for 2nd Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10km Run

Published

3 days ago

September 17, 2024

Kunle Solaja

A record 6,000 runners, local and international from across the African continent and Nigeria have registered for the second edition of the Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10km Run slated for September 28, 2024, as the organisers, Nilayo Sports Management Limited guns for a bronze label status for the race.

The Chief Operating Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Ebidowie Oweifie, noted that the theme of this year’s edition of the Abeokuta 10km Race titled ‘For Greatness’ out is out to commemorate the birthday anniversary of the Egba paramount ruler, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo 111, the 10km Run will flag off at Iyana Oloke at 6am and finish at The Alake Palace, Abeokuta.

Kenya’s Peter Nwaniki is the men’s race defending champion at a time of 28 minutes 14 seconds, while Shamila Kipsirir also of Kenya is the women’s defending champion.

Nigeria’s race men’s defending champion is Francis James at 31minutes 08seconds, while the women’s defending champion is Patience Daylop at 36 minutes 31 seconds.

The second edition of Abeokuta10km Race will be sponsored by Lotus Bank, FEBBS Premium Water, Fatgbems Petroleum Limited and Cash Token.

Athletics

Behold, CAS statement on Tobi Amusan

Published

3 months ago

June 29, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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

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.

Athletics

Tobi Amusan floors WADA and World Athletics!

Published

3 months ago

June 29, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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.”

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.