Nigerian athletes who staged comebacks at Paris 2024 after Tokyo Olympics heartbreak

On the eve of the athletics occasions on the delayed 2020 Olympic Video games, which finally happened in 2021, some information emerged from Tokyo that shook Nigerian sports activities to their foundations. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), an impartial physique established by World Athletics to handle all integrity points, together with doping and non-doping issues, introduced that 18 athletes had been declared ineligible to compete within the Video games. Tragically, greater than half of those disqualified athletes had been Nigerians.

For these younger Nigerian athletes, the enjoyment of being about to make their Olympic debut rapidly become a nightmare. Their desires had been nearly crushed and their spirits damaged, all because of the negligence of the nation’s sports activities directors. Whereas many of the affected athletes have overcome that bitter expertise to fulfil their dream of changing into Olympians in Paris, a couple of others weren’t as lucky and should by no means get one other probability.

What occurred?

Nigeria, together with different affected international locations, was discovered responsible of not assembly testing necessities beneath Rule 15 for 10 athletes. The AIU defined that beneath the Rule, which governs Nationwide Federation Anti-Doping Obligations and got here into impact in January 2019, Nationwide Federations should implement correct anti-doping measures inside their jurisdictions. This rule outlines minimal testing necessities for nationwide groups of ‘Class A’ federations, that are thought of to have the very best doping danger and threaten the game’s total integrity.

One key requirement of Rule 15 is that an athlete from a ‘Class A’ nation should endure at the least three no-notice out-of-competition exams (together with each urine and blood) carried out at the least three weeks aside within the 10 months main as much as a serious occasion. Solely then can they be eligible to symbolize their nationwide crew on the World Athletics Championships or the Olympic Video games.

For 2021, the seven recognized ‘Class A’ Nationwide Federations had been Belarus, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and Ukraine.

Affected athletes

Favour Ofili

At simply 16, Favour Ofili was the youngest athlete on the 2019 World Championships in Doha, competing within the 400m and 4×400m relay occasions. Her fast rise from the junior to senior ranks was spectacular, and making the crew for the Tokyo Olympics got here as no shock, given her promise in each race she ran. Sadly, her lengthy and profitable 2021 season, which was presupposed to culminate on the Olympics, led to disappointment. Whereas Ofili finally competed on the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games, it was not with out additional drama. The 21-year-old was inexplicably not registered for the 100m occasion she had certified for, and although Nigeria’s Sports activities Minister, John Enoh, has vowed to analyze the matter, the injury was already achieved.

Ruth Usoro

The story of Ruth Usoro’s journey from the streets of Lagos to changing into a power within the US collegiate system is inspirational. Usoro started athletics on the age of 10 with a transparent mission: “I wish to compete for my nation, Nigeria, on the Olympics.” Sadly, she was denied that chance on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Fortunately, this denial solely delayed her dream, as she competed in Paris and made it to the ultimate of the Girls’s Lengthy Soar occasion alongside fellow Nigerians Ese Brume and Prestina Ochonogor.

Annette Echikunwoke

Raised in the US, Annette Echikunwoke traced her roots again to Nigeria to symbolize her father’s homeland. Nevertheless, she was caught within the internet of administrative incompetence that has lengthy plagued Nigerian sports activities. Not solely had been the required out-of-competition doping exams not carried out, the paperwork required to finalise her swap of allegiance from the US to Nigeria was additionally mishandled. Regardless of this, Echikunwoke was prepared to provide Nigeria one other probability after the Tokyo debacle. Sadly, Nigeria’s loss grew to become America’s achieve, as Echikunwoke made historical past as America’s first-ever medalist within the Hammer Throw occasion in Paris.

Chioma Onyekwere

Former Nigeria and African champion within the Girls’s Discus Throw, Chioma Onyekwere, was amongst these devastated by the Tokyo debacle. But, she remained steadfast in her Olympic desires, returning to Paris with two different throwers she had impressed. Reflecting on her journey, Onyekwere acknowledged, “After lacking the possibility to compete within the Tokyo Olympics, I got here into the Paris Olympics with the mindset to provide it my all and have enjoyable! Usually, we take these particular moments as a right. One factor I’ve discovered from Tokyo is to understand each second I get to compete.” Onyekwere, who balances her roles as an engineer {and professional} athlete, ensured that the delay in Tokyo didn’t cease her from reaching Paris.

Chidi Okezie

“4 years in the past, my world shattered. I confronted the crushing blow of disqualification on account of no fault of my very own. My dream of competing within the Olympics was ripped from my palms, however not my coronary heart.” These had been the emotional phrases of Chidi Okezie as he ready to compete on the Paris Olympic Video games. The 400m runner gave it his all however sadly didn’t make it to the semifinals.

Tima Godbless

Tima Godbless additionally confronted setbacks in Tokyo however managed to maneuver previous them. After representing Nigeria on the World Junior Championships the yr after Tokyo, Godbless has since joined the American collegiate system and is now a scholar on the prestigious Louisiana State College (LSU). In Paris, she fulfilled her Olympic dream, competing within the 100m and 4x100m occasions. Though she didn’t advance past the primary rounds, many consider she’s going to return stronger for the following Olympic Video games in Los Angeles.

Rosemary Chukwuma

Rosemary Chukwuma, one other younger sprinter affected by the Tokyo debacle, seemed ahead to constructing on her success on the 2018 Youth Olympic Video games in Argentina, the place she gained gold. Nevertheless, her Olympic desires had been placed on maintain. Chukwuma needed to wait three extra years earlier than fulfilling her dream in Paris.

Ajayi, Omovoh

Sadly, the duo of Yinka Ajayi and Data Omovoh, additionally affected in Tokyo, have since light from the radar and didn’t make it to Paris.

Whereas it’s commendable that almost all Nigerian athletes confirmed exceptional resilience, overcoming the Tokyo setback to compete once more, it’s disheartening that the officers liable for the nationwide embarrassment are but to be held accountable. This stark distinction raises critical issues in regards to the state of sports activities administration in Nigeria. The lingering query is whether or not these officers will proceed undermining athletes’ desires with out going through penalties.