AFN declines comments on Ofili

Officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria have refused to state their positions on sprinter Favour Ofili being labelled ‘uncontrollable’ by an unnamed official of the federation over her rumoured plan to switch allegiance, The PUNCH reports.

Ofili has been at loggerheads with the AFN and the Nigeria Olympic Committee over its failure to register her for the women’s 100m event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where the country returned without a medal.

Although the Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has promised a probe into the matter, the athlete’s relationship with the federation seems to have degenerated.

When contacted about the position of the AFN on Ofili’s case, in the wake of the comments of the unnamed official, the Technical Director of the AFN, Samuel Onikeku, declined comments, tagging the issue controversial, while the president of the federation, Tonobok Okowa, did not respond to several calls and WhatsApp messages sent to him by our correspondent.

“It’s an unnamed source, and you want me to comment? You should know by now I don’t dwell on controversies. If it is a technical issue, then I can respond, thanks,” Onikeku said.

In a recent report (not The PUNCH), the unnamed official alleged that Ofili had a track record of violating the AFN’s procedures since 2022.

“Ofili is fast becoming an uncontrollable athlete for the AFN. The biggest disappointment Ofili gave to Nigeria was her refusal to compete in the semifinal of the 100m at the 23rd African Senior Championships in Douala, Cameroon, in July this year.

“Our immediate reaction was to stop her and Rosemary Chukwuma, who also stayed away from her 100m semifinal event, from making the team to the Paris Olympics. But the Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh, invited them to his hotel in Douala for discussion even without our knowledge. It became difficult for the AFN to wield the big stick against them.”

In Ofili’s defence, her coach from Louisiana State University, Dennis Shaver, who was said to have been with her during some of those periods she reportedly violated AFN rules, denied the allegations of deliberately missing the African Championships race.

“So it’s not true. Favour informed coaches after multiple start time delays from several warm-ups she would not compete in the final due to feelings of possible injury. This is the fact!” Shaver stated via X.

Beijing 2008 Olympics silver medallist, Blessing Okagbare, who is currently serving an 11-year ban for doping violations, also wrote via X, “If and when you challenge an authority for negligence and incompetence, they tag you as undisciplined, arrogant, and disrespectful. None of them can even prove how you disrespected them directly. They’re always threatened by the truth.”