Kwara State Athletics Association has been suspended indefinitely by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) due to the presence of a banned coach, Hammid Muritala, at the recent Golden League in Benin.
In response, Bolakale Mogaji, Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission (KSSC), has pledged to hold those responsible for the incident accountable.
Mogaji expressed his concern for the future of young athletes and stated that the individuals responsible for allowing the banned coach to participate would face consequences. He also revealed plans to persuade the AFN to reconsider the suspension imposed on Kwara State.
Coach Hammid Muritala, who is currently serving a 10-year ban for admitting to administering banned substances to a youth athlete during the National Youth Games two years ago, managed to join the state’s contingent for the AFN Golden League in Benin. This raised eyebrows among stakeholders and prompted the AFN to take action.
Mogaji defended the Sports Commission, stating that Coach Muritala had been suspended since October 2022. The Commission was unaware that the banned coach had traveled with the state’s contingent to Benin. The discovery was made when the Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Tsado Haruna, inquired about their travel arrangements on June 12, 2023.
Consequently, Mogaji instructed Mr. Haruna to issue queries to Head Coach Patience Lawal, Association Secretary Kafilat Aliyu, Coach Oluwaseyi Awe, and the suspended coach, Hammid Muritala. The responses to these queries will determine the subsequent actions to be taken.
While the AFN’s official communication of the suspension has not reached the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mogaji assured that once they receive the notification, they will apologize and provide evidence of their correspondences to prove their innocence in the matter.
The suspension of Kwara State Athletics Association serves as a reminder of the need for strict adherence to anti-doping regulations and the importance of ensuring banned individuals are not involved in athletics activities. The incident has raised concerns about the integrity of the sport and the safeguarding of young athletes. The Kwara State Sports Commission remains committed to resolving the issue and taking appropriate measures to prevent such lapses in the future.
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