Elias Gora, a retired sports administrator, emphasized that athletes like Tobi Amusan have a responsibility to society and should act with integrity. Gora, a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, expressed these sentiments in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), discussing Amusan’s suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
Amusan faces potential exclusion from the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, due to the suspension. The AIU, which oversees anti-doping measures in global athletics, suspended Amusan for missing three drug tests within a year, leading to a possible two-year suspension. Consequently, she was excluded by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria from the competition, pending the AIU’s doping investigation.
Gora argued that while the federation bears some responsibility, Amusan is an adult who should be accountable for her actions. He believed that the athlete’s omission from the World Championships is a significant setback for both Nigeria and Amusan herself, given her reputation.
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The retired sports administrator highlighted that AIU has mechanisms to contact athletes for testing and emphasized that Amusan knew the rules and consequences. Gora, who served as Chef de Mission at the 2010 New Delhi Games, stressed the importance of the World Championship as the pinnacle for reputable athletes.
In conclusion, Gora indicated that despite potential blame towards the federation, Amusan’s actions were ultimately her own choices. He wished success to the remaining contingent while underlining the significance of athletes upholding their commitments to anti-doping measures and participating in high-profile competitions like the World Championships.
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