FAVOUR Ofili will not compete in the 100m at the Paris 2024 Olympics due to administrative failures by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC).
Eighteen-Eleven Media gathered that despite meeting the qualification standard, her entry was not submitted by the AFN and the NOC.
The Louisiana State University (LSU) Track and Field alumni tweeted at about 10 pm Tuesday thus: “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?”
Despite qualifying for the event, Ofili disclosed that the officials did not enter her, marking a repeat of the previous Olympics, Tokyo 2020.
She added, “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……
“If those responsible are not held accountable for taking this opportunity from me, neither organisation can ever be trusted in the future! The next one is the 200 metres. I hope I’m entered.”
The 21-year-old sprinter was entered for the 100m, 200m, 400m, 100×100 relay and duly secured her place in the women’s 200m event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Ofili was one of 10 Nigerian athletes declared ineligible for the Olympics by the Athletics Integrity Unit because they were not tested rigorously enough in the run-up to Tokyo 2020.
Eighteen-Eleven Media