The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has explained the selection process for Nigeria’s 35-member track and field team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, scheduled from July 26 to August 11.

This clarification comes in response to the controversy surrounding the exclusion of athletes such as Seye Ogunlewe and Enoch Adegoke. The AFN clarified that despite Seye Ogunlewe ranking 68th globally and placing 4th at trials, he was not selected.

Qualification Criteria
World Athletics stipulates two main ways for athletes to qualify for the Olympic Games:

• Reaching the qualification standard: Athletes must achieve a specific time or distance set by World Athletics for their chosen event. For example, the men’s 100m qualification standard is 10.00 seconds.
• World ranking: Athletes can qualify based on their world ranking if it’s within a certain threshold (e.g., top 56).

Selection of Sprinters

In the case of sprinters Favour Ashe and Godson Oghenebrume, they achieved both criteria. They ran 9.94 seconds and 9.99 seconds respectively in the 100m, placing them 13th and 26th in the world rankings. This automatically qualified them for both the individual 100m race and the 4x100m relay, as per World Athletics’ new relay team rules.

The remaining three positions in the 4x100m relay team were filled by the top three finishers at the National Trials held in Benin City: Kayinsola Ajayi, Akintola Alaba, and Itshekiri Usheoritshe. Seye Ogunlewe, who placed 4th at the trials and currently ranks 68th globally, missed out on selection.

Addressing Controversies
The AFN has clarified that Ashe and Oghenebrume did not compete in the trials because they were medically examined and exempted by the medical team of the competition and ratified by Professor Ken Anugweje, Chairman of the Medical and Anti-Doping Commission of the Federation.

The federation also stressed that all national trial results are submitted to World Athletics, and any discrepancies in the final team list can be investigated. They highlighted the importance of adhering to World Athletics’ strict safeguarding policy, which prohibits discrimination, cheating, bias, bribery, and victimisation by member federations.

The AFN has reiterated its commitment to following World Athletics regulations to avoid potential sanctions and ensure a fair and transparent selection process.