World Championships: Okparaebo, Alaba Blast AFN, Calls Out Ministry of Sports Over Exclusion From 22-Man List

World Championships: Okparaebo, Alaba Blast AFN, Calls Out Ministry of Sports Over Exclusion From 22-Man List 

Our Reporter

Nigeria sprint duo of Ezinne Okparaebo and Akintola Alaba have taken a swipe the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) following their exclusion in Nigeria's list to the World Athletics Championships, reports BSNSports.com.ng.

The AFN had announced a list of 22 athletes to represent the country at the World Athletics Championships, which will start July 15 in Eugene, Oregon, USA, with Okparaebo and Alana's name missing despite winning the trials held in Benin, Edo State.

Okparaebo fingered her exclusion from the list as politically motivated, as she blasted Sunday Dare for his negligence and egocentric actions.

Born on March 3, 1988, she was Scandinavia's fastest woman ever over 60m and 100m. Okparaebo has won the 100m national title 13 times. She moved to Norway as a nine-year old and grew up in Ammerud.

A bittered Okparaebo who recently switched her nationality from Norway to Nigeria said on Instagram: “It has always been my dream to compete for Nigeria on the world stage. but, despite reaching the world standard, flying to Nigeria alone, switching my allegiance from the us, and mentally/physically preparing myself after my first ever hamstring strain, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria has failed me.

“The negligence and egocentric actions of the Minister and other admin have once again overcome the Federation which negatively affects the athletes. Why am I being told 40 minutes before my flight to Oregon, the week of competition, that I’m no longer competing because of their wrongdoings and irrational fear? 

"I have already passed 2/3 drug tests, but for some reasons, I am not allowed to do my third test because of “fear of failure”. 

"They speak repeatedly about trying to fix the broken system that is Nigerian athletics by firing and hiring all new staff, but the corruption still lives.

“I, unfortunately, will not be competing at Worlds or the Commonwealth Games.”

For Alaba, “Sadly, I’m going to be out of World Championship after I qualified for three events (100M, 200M & 4x100M) not because I failed dope but because of politics, because that’s what it looks like; they hide under the umbrella of OCT(Out of Competition Test) meaning I didn’t submit my whereabouts or whatever (been on since march).

“They already cost me a major championship (that’s they plan) and I knew they know what they doing/did. Thanks to everyone that cared and showed love, really appreciate it  Stepping stone to greater things on me.”