Usoro, Ofili headline list of disqualified Nigerian athletes

Nigeria’s Sports administrators have a case of negligence to answer after 10 medal hopefuls were kicked out of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for failing to submit the required three out-of-tournament drug test results to enable them to compete at the Olympic Games, leaving just 12 athletes to carry the nation’s hopes of picking up medals at the Games in Tokyo.

The Nigerian Sports Ministry has taken responsibility after the Athletic Integrity Unit rules that the 10 athletes were to take no part in the competition, dashing their hopes of making their country proud and leaving them in a state of shock and bewilderment. Most of the disqualified athletes are foreign-based students who gained qualification through various international events. Leading the group of disqualified athletes are discus thrower Chioma Onyekwere, long jumper Ruth Usoro and sprinter Favour Ofili. In a post via her twitter handle, Onyekwere started that she was confused and seeking answers but would keep on being hopeful and continue with her training.

The affected athletes are;

Favour Ofili: US-based Sprinter, who qualified for the 200m event after excelling in her College.

Ruth Usoro: US-based long jumper, who made the cut for both the triple jump and long jump events.

Knowledge Omovoh: US-based Grand Canyon University student who qualified for the 400m event.

Rosemary Chukwuma: US-based South Plains College student who qualified for the 100m event.

Glory Patrick: Qualified for the 4X400m event.

Yinka Ajayi: US-based Drake University student who qualified for the 400m event.

Tima Godbless: Bayelsa-State born athlete who qualified for the 100m event.

Chidi Okezie: US-born Nigerian-Jamaican athlete who qualified for the 4X400m event.

Chioma Onyekwere: US-based Shotput/Discus thrower.

Annette Echikunwoke: US-based University of Cincinnati student who qualified for the shot put event.

The Nigerian contingent is now left with just 12 athletes;

Blessing Okagbare

Grace Nwokocha

Oluwatobi Amusan

Ese Brume

Patience Okon-George

Imaobong Nse-Uko

Enoch Adegoke

Divine Oduduru

Usheoritse Itsekiri

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi

Emmanuel Ojeli

Samson Nathaniel.