Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has announced she will not compete in the 100-metre race at the ongoing Olympics in Paris. Ofili attributes this setback to administrative failures by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC).
In a series of posts on Tuesday, Ofili expressed her frustration and questioned the trustworthiness of both organizations, calling for accountability. The LSU Track and Field alumna hopes to be entered in the 200-metre event.
“It is with great regret that I have just been told I will not be competing in the 100 metres at this Olympic Games. I qualified, but those with the AFN and NOC failed to enter me. I have worked for four years to earn this opportunity. For what?” Ofili stated in her post.
Despite qualifying for the event, Ofili revealed that officials did not enter her, a situation reminiscent of the previous Olympics in Tokyo 2020. “Please remember, in the last Olympic Games, I was not able to compete because AFN, NADC and NOC failed to release funds for athletes to be tested, which made 14 Nigerian athletes that qualified to not compete. Now this……”
Ofili stressed the need for accountability: “If those responsible are not held accountable for taking this opportunity from me, neither organization can ever be trusted in the future! Next one is the 200 metres. I hope I’m entered.”
Ofili, who was initially entered for the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 100×100 relay, secured her place in the women’s 200m event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The 21-year-old athlete, posting around 10 pm, was among 10 Nigerian athletes declared ineligible for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by the Athletics Integrity Unit due to insufficient testing in the run-up to the event.
