Forty-eight hours before she was disqualified from the ongoing Olympics, Nigeria’s medal hopeful, Blessing Okagbare, poured out her heart over the perceived ills of Nigerian officials.
Okagbare, who described the sports system in Nigeria as flawed, clearly told those who do not have business in it to back off.
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She had knocked the officials for fighting over contracts at the expense of the welfare of athletes.
“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.”
“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 flaw and we athletes, are always at the receiving end of the damages,” she had posted on her verified Twitter handle.
Sadly, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) suspended her from the competition for failing a drug test.
In a statement on Saturday, the AIU, which is an independent integrity body created by the World Athletics, said her sample tested positive for human growth hormone.
Okagbare had on Friday cruised to first place in the 100m heat, in 11.05 seconds, to qualify for Saturday’s semi-finals.
She was also due to compete in the 200m, as well as the 4x100m relay.
The 32-year-old medal prospect for Nigeria won silver in the long jump at Beijing 2008 Olympics.
