Athletics
Ismael Sadjo, Rose Akusho steal show at 2021 Bigi Abeokuta 10 KM Race
Ismaeel Sadjo from Cross River state on Saturday, November 13, 2021 emerged champion of the Bigi Abeokuta 10 kilometre race (Men category) to claim the two thousand dollars prize money.
The race started at the popular Ake palace, and Sadjo got to the finish line at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta after thirty one minutes and three seconds (31.03)
In a race that featured 100 percent indigenous runners, Stephen Joshua from Plateau state finished second with a time of thirty one minutes and forty three seconds (31.43), while Emmanuel Gyang finished as the second runner up (32.05).
In the women version, Plateau state athletes took centre stage as three of their runners finished on the podium.
Rose Akusho took the top prize with a time of thirty six minutes and twenty nine seconds (36.29), she was closely followed by Vera Yahanna who got to the finish line after thirty seven minutes, five seconds (37.05), just as Patience Dalyop took the third Position with a time of (38.05).
The top three in the male and female category were presented with a cheque of two thousand dollars, one thousand five hundred dollars and one thousand dollars in that order.
The wheelchair race had Sefiu Ojeleye, Akanni Jelili and Shola Opaleke as the podium finishers respectively in the male category, while Olajumoke Olajide, Chika Enwerem and Nofisat Adefala emerged as the winner, first runner up and second runner up in that order in the female version.
Organizers of the Abeokuta 10 kilometre Race, Nilayo Sports Management Limited confirmed that the athletes will be credited in a record time of 48 hours.
Managing Director of NSML, Hon. Bukola Olopade at the end of the event appreciated the sponsors and the Ogun state government for the tremendous support, he added that their limitless contribution will continue to strengthen and empower the youth, and also give a facelift to the sports sector in the country.
Hon. Olopade made it known that the decision to feature just indigenous athletes at this edition of the Abeokuta 10 kilometre race has already proven to be a success.
He said “Our decision to have a Home land race for the first time has yielded positively, and going forward, we will review this decision and if it will be best for the Abeokuta 10 kilometre race to remain as a race for Indigenes, so be it”.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without the support from our sponsors, Rite Foods, makers of the Bigi Brand, Access Bank, Suzuki, Coleman Wires and Cables, IBD Hotels and others, we sincerely appreciate everything you have committed into this project, one thing we will continue to assure you is the quality, value and a good mileage for your input”
“We also appreciate the Executive governor of Ogun State, Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun, the enabling environment is unrivalled, we will not take this support for granted”.
“We are already looking forward to the next edition which we believe will be bigger and better, thank you everyone”.
At the end of the event, Legendary Fuji musician, Alhaji Sefiu Alao (Baba Oko thrilled the audience at the MKO Abiola Stadium, rave of the moment, Alayo Melody singer (Global Legend of Orchestra) was also on hand to entertain the crowd.
Another top rated juju musician, Boye Best also created magic, while fast rising Abeokuta based hype man, Michael Fadiya (MOTM) infused energy to wrap up the epoch making event.
Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Federal House of Representatives, Olumide Osoba was present at the flag off of the race which had earlier received Royal Blessings from the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.
The Secretary to the state government, Tokunbo Talabi led the extremely powerful state government delegation which also had commissioner for youth and sports, Dr. Kehinde Oluwadare, his local government and chieftaincy affairs associate, Afolabi Afuape, special assistant to the governor on youth and sports, Lamide Lawal, special assistant on Job creation, Abiola Odetola and a host of others.
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.
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.
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.
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