Athletics

AFN AND MAKING OF CHAMPIONS FINALIZE PLANS FOR OLYMPICS QUALIFYING TRIALS

Published

3 years ago

May 15, 2021

By PAUL AKAGBEMHE

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria AFN in conjunction with the Making Of Champions (MoC) have concluded plans for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualifying trials which is fixed for Saturday 22nd May at Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos

Over 150 Athletes will battle for qualification spots and Organisers say the stakes are high

The participants include some of Nigeria’s top athletes and several others from across Africa,

MoC on Saturday announced the first ever AFN/MoC Invitational, which is being organized to provide Athletes across Nigeria and Africa hoping to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, African Championships and World U20 Championships with a much needed opportunity to compete and hit the various qualification standards.

MoC Founder/CEO Bambo Akani said, “Even though some of Nigeria’s top athletes are currently on a training and competition tour in the US, there are many other Athletes in Nigeria who are still in contention to break into the Olympic team, and felt it necessary to ensure that they did not remain idle in May ahead of the National Trials for the Olympics in June.

“Thankfully, the AFN shared this view to maximize the Olympic qualification opportunities for its Athletes and have thrown their full weight behind the Event – we would like to thank them once again for making our continued AFN/MoC partnership for yet another Olympic qualifying Competition a reality.”

Some of the top Athletes that have registered include Praise Ofoku, Olayinka Olajide and MoC’s Moyosore Badejo in the women’s 100m/200m, Nicholas Fakorede, Efe-Sam Agalive and MoC’s duo of Gafaru Audu and Gracious Ushie in the men’s 100m/200m, Afeez Abdulrahman in the men’s 400m, Blessing Ovwighoadjebre and MoC’s duo of Blessing Oladoye and Mercy Umoibang in the women’s 400m.

In the Hurdles events, Martins Oghierakhi and Samuel Osadolor have registered for the men’s 110m Hurdles, Ese Awusa, Adaeze Nwokike and Comfort Ekanem in the women’s 100m Hurdles and/or 400m Hurdles, with Prior Ochonogor and Gbenga Bakre in the men’s 400m Hurdles. In the Field Events, David Aya will feature in the men’s High Jump, Ruth Agadama in the women’s Long Jump (and 100m), Zola Nzube in the men’s Triple Jump and Utitofon James in the women’s Discus.

Furthermore, in the same vein as the BetKing/3rd MoC Grand Prix in March, the AFN/MoC Invitational is already attracting interest from Athletes across Africa, with registrations already coming in from as far away as Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone!

As the name suggests, the AFN/MoC Invitational will be based strictly on invitation, to athletes who have met the Entry Standards in the 12 Track and 4 Field events to be featured – The Men’s & Women’s 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 100/110m Hurdles and 400m Hurdles on the Track, while the Field events are Women’s Long Jump, Men’s Triple Jump, Men’s High Jump and Women’s Discus Throw

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.