Tokyo Olympics: Okagbare Lambasts Sports Ministry Over 10 Athletes Disqualification

Nigerian track and field athlete, Blessing Okagbare, has indicted Nigerian sports administrators over the ban of 10 of the country’s athletes from the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.

According to reports, the 10 were banned for not doing mandatory doping tests.

They include:  Knowledge Omovoh, Ruth Usoro, Favor Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Glory Patrick, Yinka Ajayi, Tima Godbless, Chidi Okezie, Chioma Onyekwere and Annette Echikunwok.

Okagbare linked the woes to sports administrators in the country whom, she said, abandoned the athletes to pursue selfish gains and contracts.

Okagbare disclosed this on her Facebook page on Thursday.

In her words: “I have said it before and I will say it again. If you do not know the sport, not passionate about it/us (the athletes), then you have no business there as an administrator. The sport system in Nigeria is so flawed and we athletes are always at the receiving end of the damages.

“They were busy fighting over power, exercising their pride over puma contract/kits forgetting their major responsibility “THE ATHLETES”. It’s sad that this cycle keeps repeating its self and some people will come out to say I am arrogant for speaking my truth. It is my CAREER.”

Okagbare is, not among the athletes disqualified from the Tokyo Olympics.