World Athletics Council’s Integrity unit has cleared a total of 12 Nigerian athletes, making them eligible to compete in the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Adeniyi Beyioku, Secretary General of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), stated this on Thursday.
According to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN), 18 athletes from the final Tokyo Olympic Games entrants were present.
In addition, the Kenyan National Federation removed two athletes prior to the submission of their World Athletics entries.
Nigeria was the worst-affected country, failing to achieve the minimum testing standards for ten athletes under Rule 15.
National Federation Anti-Doping Obligations are governed by Rule 15 of the National Federation Anti-Doping Obligations Regulations, which went into effect in January 2019.
The Rule establishes minimum testing procedures for national teams of ‘Category A’ federations, which are assessed to have the highest doping risk and pose a threat to the sport’s general integrity.
Rule 15 stipulates that an athlete from a ‘Category A’ country must submit to at least three no-notice out-of-competition tests (urine and blood) administered no later than the end of the competition period.
Beyioku expressed his joy at the current result and pledged that the federation will continue to be the golden goose for Team Nigeria in the Olympics.
“The World Athletics Council’s Integrity Unit has cleared 12 Nigerian athletes as completely eligible to compete in the Tokyo Olympics.
He added that sprint hurdler Tobiloba Amusan, who is rated fourth in the 100m hurdles, and long jumper Ese Brume, who is ranked first in the world in her event, were also approved to compete.
Grace Nwokocha, the home-grown sensation who qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a time of 11.09 seconds at the MOC Grand Prix in Lagos in March, is also on the list.
He went on to say that the athletes were in good spirits and determined to bring Nigeria back to the top of the podium for the first time since Blessing Okagbare and the women’s 4x100m won Nigeria’s last track and field medals in 2008.
According to NAN, athletics won 13 of the country’s 25 medals in the games, including two of the three gold medals.