Nigerian 400m athlete Imaobong Uko has come forward with serious allegations against the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) after receiving a two-year suspension from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for whereabouts failures, which she insists was caused by the federation’s negligence and systemic failures.
In an emotional and detailed statement shared publicly, Uko described her suspension as the tragic outcome of “a broken system and corrupt practices” within the AFN. She revealed how, despite her best efforts to comply with the mandatory whereabouts reporting system required for anti-doping monitoring, technical issues and a lack of support from officials left her stranded and ultimately cost her two years of her career.
“For months, I battled with an online platform designed for us to submit our whereabouts. This is an essential process for athletes who undergo regular drug testing. However, even though I tried countless times to get it right, I was met with error messages, poor network, and a system that simply didn’t work,” Uko shared passionately.
She continued, “I reached out to the AFN repeatedly. My calls, texts, and emails were mostly ignored. On the few occasions I got a response, I was told to ‘wait’ or that there were ‘network issues.’ No practical solution or assistance was offered, and no one took responsibility.”
Uko disclosed that during her hearing, she openly challenged AFN representatives on why they refused to assist her at critical times. Instead of providing concrete answers, they claimed she had incorrectly submitted her information, an allegation she firmly denies and described as an attempt to shift blame.
The athlete recounted her desperate attempts to get help from key officials. “I reached out to Mbachi Louis, and to Mrs. Onos, who ignored me for months and only responded on the day of my hearing, but even then refused to help. I also contacted Taldang, the Assistant Secretary of the AFN, who promised to help but failed me when it mattered the most,” she said.
She described the personal and emotional damage caused by this ordeal, revealing how deeply disappointed she was by the lack of care and professionalism from the federation entrusted with safeguarding athletes’ welfare.
“This situation has laid bare the corruption, incompetence, and negligence that run through the heart of the AFN. These officials are meant to protect and guide us, but instead, they abandon us and watch as our careers crumble,” she charged.
Uko ended her statement with a powerful rallying cry, urging fellow athletes to unite against the injustices that undermine Nigerian sports. She encouraged them to speak out and hold officials accountable in order to build a system grounded in fairness and integrity.
“We must not stay silent. Let’s join forces to expose these wrongdoings and demand a transparent, supportive, and professional system for every athlete in Nigeria. Our future depends on it,” she concluded.
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