Abba blames Dare, AFN after exclusion from World Championships

Please share this story:

Nigerian athlete Ezinne Abba has spoken out against what she described as her "unfair exclusion" from the 2022 World Championships in Oregon, USA.

The global event begins on Friday.

Abba alleged that she was cut from the team just 40 minutes before she was due to board her flight to Oregon for the championships.

The 21-year-old took to Instagram to express her anger over her exclusion after just completing her stint from the United States to Nigeria.

She also blamed Sports Minister Sunday Dare and the Nigerian Athletics Federation for her omission.

"It has always been my dream to compete for Nigeria on the world stage, but despite reaching the world standard, flying alone in Nigeria, changing allegiance to the United States and mentally preparing myself physically after my first hamstring strain, the Nigeria Athletics Federation let me down,” Abba wrote.

"The negligence and self-centered actions of the minister and other administrators have once again defeated the federation, which negatively affects the athletes.

"Why am I being told 40 minutes before my flight to Oregon competition week that I will not be competing again because of their misdeeds and irrational fear?

"I've already passed 2/3 of drug tests, but for some reason I'm not allowed to take my third test due to "fear of failure ".

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

"Unfortunately, I will not be competing in the World Championships or the Commonwealth Games," she added.

Additionally, Tennessee-based sprinter Alaba Akintola also took to Instagram to express his disappointment.

"Unfortunately, I will be kicked out of the World Championships in Oregon after qualifying for three events (100m, 200m and 4x100m) not because I missed dope , but because of politics because that's what it looks like.

"They hid under the umbrella of OCT (out of competition testing) which means I didn't provide my whereabouts or anything (I'm there am since March).

"They already cost me a major championship, it's their plan and I knew they knew what they were doing. Thank you to everyone who cared and showed some l 'love, I really appreciate this. A stepping stone to greater things"

Meanwhile, AFN General Secretary Adisa Beyioku described the athletes' online outbursts as unfortunate. Beyioku said Ezine's omission was due to his inability to compete in an individual event during the Nigerian trials in Benin. City last month.

"Miss Abba did not compete in any individual event at the Nigerian Championships in Benin City, which were used as selections for the World Championships in Athletics and the Commonwealth Games," Beyioku said in a press release.

“This means that his selection will no longer be based on merit, but at the discretion of the AFN.

"Abba also failed to pass the three mandatory out-of-competition tests for the championships as she was not under the radar of the Nigerian anti-doping agency until recently when she was changed allegiance to the United States of America America in Nigeria was granted by World Athletics." He added that the federation would refer Abba to its disciplinary committee for necessary action following his outburst.

"She should have known that her selection is not automatic and must explain why she chose to publicly hang the name of the AFN and the Minister of Sports inappropriately. The AFN will not tolerate any misguided outburst from any athlete,” he added.