The Media Is Using The Word “Banned” Losely On Our Athletes – AFN

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has come out to say that secluded Nigerian athletes were not banned for doping.

Adeniyi Beyioku, Secretary-General of the federation recently revealed this via a statement, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, the athletes were prevented from participating at the Olympics because of non-completion of their mandatory three out of competition test (OCT), not because they were banned.

He added that it is very sad to see Nigerian newspapers reporting false news as fact.

His words, “This is far from the truth. The athletes were only declared ineligible to compete because they did not complete the three out-of-competition tests that would have made them eligible for only the Tokyo Olympic Games.”

“Why the federation regrets the unfortunate incident, we however plead on behalf of the athletes who have complained about the negative tag that they are not banned from track and field as they have not violated any anti-doping rules.”

“The athletes are free to compete in the many track meetings that will hold immediately after the Olympics across the globe and it will be inappropriate and unpatriotic to tag them as banned athletes.”

“The Athletics Integrity Unit did not use the word, ‘banned’ in its press release naming 18 athletes from six countries who are ineligible to compete at this Olympics due to the OCT failure.”

“Both the AIU and World Athletics usually, after all, anti-doping procedures have been concluded state the duration of the ban or suspension slammed on any violator of the anti-doping rules.”

“In the case of our athletes, they have not contravened any anti-doping rule and should be tagged as one.”