A heated dispute erupted during the 100m finals of the National Sports Festival at MKO Abiola Stadium, following dramatic wins by Team Edo and Team Delta, amidst protests and accusations of interference.
Race Results:
-Men’s 100m:Chidera Ezeaku (Team Edo) won gold with a time of 10.27 seconds.
-Women’s 100m:Kate Odumoso (Team Delta) claimed victory at 11.43 seconds but collapsed post-race, requiring medical attention.
Key Incident:
The controversy peaked when U.S.-based sprinter Favour Ashe was disqualified shortly before the men’s final. Ashe, the favorite after strong heats, was barred for allegedly wearing a “second bib.”
This disqualification sparked outrage, particularly as it was purportedly ordered by Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission, rather than from official athletics officials.
Team Delta officials denounced the action as “interference at the highest level” and highlighted a similar incident during the women’s 100m T54/56 final that went unpenalized, raising allegations of bias.
Official Protest: In light of these events, Team Delta filed a formal protest with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), questioning the fairness of the proceedings and the authority under which decisions were made.
They contended that the integrity of competition must be upheld, and rules should apply uniformly.
Impact on Medal Table:
Despite the upheaval, Team Delta has maintained a significant lead in the medal tally of the National Sports Festival, outpacing their nearest rivals, Bayelsa, with a substantial number of gold medals.
The incident has ignited discussions in the sports community regarding governance and fairness in competitions, with calls for clearer regulations and accountability from officials.
