Kwara State Sports Commission clears air over AFN suspension, denies harbouring banned Coach

Kwara State Sports Commission clears air over AFN suspension, denies harbouring banned Coach
Image:Coach Bola Magaji, Executive Chairman of Kwara State Sports Commission.



Following the indefinite suspension placed on the Kwara Athletics Association by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria(AFN), Kwara State sports commission has denied its complicity in the issue. 

The suspension which is contained in a statement by AFN was meted out to the state athletics association over the presence of a banned track and field Coach at the golden league in Benin. 

The said Coach, Hammid Muritala was banned by the Nigeria anti-doping committe for anti-doping rules violation for a period of 10 (Ten) years for allegedly doping a junior athlete at the National Youth Games held in Ilorin, Kwara State in 2021.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Coach Bola Magaji maintained that the commission was not aware of the presence of the Coach at the league in Benin and never sanctioned his inclusion as part of the contingent.

He stated that the commission had earlier suspended the Coach in a letter dated Oct. 14, 2022, before they got the AFN's ban notice in February 2023.

Even as he noted that the first letter from AFN didn't get to the commission, he said the one sent on February 7, 2023 through DHL has a reminder attached to it and was received on the same date. 

The Coach has however been asked to step aside from any activities pending the determination of his case. 

Magaji attributed the presence of the Coach at Benin as a dereliction of duty and negligence on the part of officials of the commission who has now been served queries, as clarified that "names of ten athletes and a coach was submitted to represent Kwara State of which Coach Hammed Muritala was not included".

"We have issued queries to the Head of Coaching of the commission, the athletics association secretary, the athletics coach who led the team to Benin and the suspended Coach.

"I want to assure you that we will act duly after receiving their responses to the queries and make sure that anybody found wanting will be punished"

He, however stated that the commission only heard of the suspension of the association on the media but yet to receive an official correspondence from the AFN to the effect. 

While noting that the commission under his watch is committed to maintaining all anti-doping rules, he stressed that concerted effort will be made to see that the AFN review its decisions. 

"We will try as much as possible to communicate our stand in this issue and the effort we have made in compliance with the decision of the AFN in the first place and explore means to seek for their leniency on the suspension as the . He concluded

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