Sports

We Never Abandoned Blessing Okagbare In Tokyo – AFN Insist

Published

3 years ago

Nov 10, 2021.

David Titiloye

AFN has denied allegations that it abandoned Blessing Okagbare in Tokyo
The sprinter was suspended over drug issues at Tokyo Olympic games

Ekohotblog reports that Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has denied allegations that it abandoned Blessing Okagbare in Tokyo.

Blessing Okagbare was suspended on the eve of her 100m race at the Tokyo Olympics games by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) due to drug related issues.

Blessing Okagbare

Blessing Okagbare sister, Grace however accused the federation of deserting her during her travails.

Apart from accusing AFN of abandoning the sprinter, her sister also alleged that Blessing was being forced to accept doping charges instituted against her by the AIU.

Blessing Okagbare

However, an official of the AFN during an interview, told The Guardian that top officials of the federation as well as those in Team Nigeria nearly ‘stepped out of the boundary’ in Tokyo in their bid to show Okagbare solidarity shortly after the news of her suspension was broken.

The AFN official said: “It is not true that Nigeria abandoned Okagbare as alleged by her sister, Grace. We went contrary to the guidelines in Tokyo in our bid to show our solidarity and love to her. When the news of her suspension was broken, Team Nigeria quickly dispatched some top officials to her. They stayed with Blessing in her room consoling her. Some of them even stayed with her throughout the night.

“Even when Blessing was leaving for the airport, she did not go alone. So, why will her sister point accuse fingers at the AFN and Nigeria that Blessing was abandoned? I can’t also understand why Grace is saying that Blessing is being forced to accept doping charges instituted against her by the Athletics Integrity Unit. Did anybody force her to take performance-enhancing drugs in the first place? Is Blessing still a baby?”