ONE of Nigeria’s boxing legends, Segun Ajose, has blamed the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) for the disastrous outing of Team Nigeria boxers in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Ajose took to the coaches’ platform to express his regrets at the poor performance of Nigerian pugilists stating that poor judgement, nepotism and placing incompetence above competence and experience by the Federation contributed greatly to the country not putting up a good performance in Paris.
He stated that the doping issue that led to the disqualification of one of the boxers could be traceable to the coach who took the team to the Olympics.
According to the member of ‘Team Nigeria’ boxing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and one-time number one contender to the WBC Super Lightweight title, it’s unfortunate that in the last six months, three Nigerian elite boxers failed dope test which is a stain in the country’s boxing; saying there’s need to curtail the anomaly.
He expressed surprise that a person who failed a dope test as a boxer and is close to the fighters who have tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs was allowed to handle Team Nigeria boxing at the Olympics.
”At the 1999 All African Games in Johannesburg, South Africa, myself and one other boxer won 2 Gold medals for Nigeria, however, the other boxer failed a dope test and was stripped of his medal but because social media was not so popular then, the matter didn’t get adequate attention and as such coaches and boxers couldn’t learn from it.
”Few years later, in 2002, at the Commonwealth Games camp, another boxer, Adura Olalehin, failed a dope test and, as a result, was decamped. In the 2024 African Games Camp, two boxers, namely Shukurat Kareem and Dolapo Omole, who are known to be very close to Adura, failed the dope test.
“The results of the tests did not come out till after the African Games. When the results came out, Shukurat admitted her mistake and did not contest the result and was sanctioned immediately.
“Dolapo contested the result and asked for sample B to be tested and that was why he was in the Olympics camp, as the case was not yet concluded.
“When the result of sample B came out positive, he was immediately sanctioned, and that was why he didn’t make the Olympics team.
”But surprisingly, Adura lied to the Nigerian public, claiming that he won’t be going to the Olympics due to “knee injury, thereby covering up a dope scandal which looks suspicious.
”And as if that was not enough, another boxer under his care, Cynthia Ogunsemilore, failed a dope test, making his role more suspicious,” stressed the former African and Commonwealth champion.
Ajose noted that it’s common knowledge that young boxers can easily be influenced by their coaches, as they’re highly regarded and respected by boxers and as such, the role of the coach must be properly scrutinized.
He posited that for Nigerian boxing to be reformed and brought back to its glorious days the following questions must be answered by the boxing body
★ Did Adura Olalehin fail a dope test in 2002?
★ Is the NBF current administration aware of this?
★ Is there any influence of Adura Olalehin on any of the boxers who failed the dope test?
★ Why did Adura Olalehin lie to cover up a boxer’s dope case?
★ Is Adura complicit in any of the boxer’s failed dope cases?
Ajose concluded by saying that it’s of utmost importance to have a thorough investigation of the matter so that the NBF and the Ministry of Sports can get the true answers to these questions and make the world not see them as being complicit.
However, in refuting the allegations, Adura also took to the platform to accuse Ajose of being jealous of his rising profile, noting that he has never taken performance-enhancing drugs nor encouraged boxers under his care to do so.
Source: newstap.com.ng
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