– Urges track queen to put trauma behind
Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) President, Tonobok Okowa, has described as a ‘big relief’ the clearance of World Record holder in 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, to compete in the ongoing Budapest 2023 World Championships.
A panel of Disciplinary Tribunal cleared Amusan of three whereabouts failures charge on Thursday evening, and the Nigerian is already in Budapest preparing for her event on Tuesday.
Speaking with The Guardian, yesterday, Okowa, who is also the president of African Region 2 Athletics body, as well as chairman of Delta Sports Commission, said Amusan’s clearance has lifted the spirit within Team Nigeria’s camp in Budapest.
“You need to see the excitement in the camp when Tobi Amusan arrived here on Friday,” Okowa stated.
He revealed that Amusan’s presence would ginger other Nigerian athletes to do their best in Budapest.
Meanwhile, AFN has urged Amusan to put behind the trauma of the initial suspension placed on her by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), and focus on the task of retaining her 100m hurdles title.
Two-time former AFN President, Chief Solomon Ogba, said that as an athlete, the suspension was enough to traumatise Amusan, considering the timing.
“But I have told her to quickly put it behind and focus on the World Championships. She should take it as one of the challenges of life, especially in Sports business,” Ogba, who is also the vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), stated.
The Guardian
