The National Sports Commission (NSC), has justified the disqualification of Team Delta’s Favour Ashe from the 100m final at the 22nd National Sports Festival held on Saturday at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta.
The NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko made the clarification at an interactive session with newsmen on Sunday in Abeokuta.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 21-year-old sprinter, was a favourite to win the race having ran the fastest 100m this year at 10.01 seconds.
Ashe also won his semi-final heat to qualify for the final.
However, Ashe in his defence, said he had properly briefed the organisers about his missing bib after he ran for the semi-final race.
“I ran with one bib in the semi finals but why now? Ashe queried.
However, Dikko who clarified the stance of the LOC, said that it was a standard rule that was applicable to all athletes without favouritism.
“The case about Ashe’s disqualification is simple, he flouted the rules of the game.
“He has only one bid and according to the rule, he is not fit to run , the standard is standard all over,” he said.
On the postponement of the sports festival, and the impact on subsequent ones, Dikko explained that the postponement had a justifiable reason.
“The festival was only postponed once and that was at our instance it is supposed to be on December 2024, but the NSC was set up in October.
“We felt that there was a need to put our heads together to see what we can do quickly as possible working with the state government
“This Sports festival in Ogun will be a benchmark going forward what we are doing is to improve the games,” he said.
Dikko further revealed that hosting sports festival would be more seamless as many states were now jostling to host the sports fiesta.
“We have gotten all the state governments involved in the bidding process, and they have submitted their letter of intent and it is quite gratifying for us that the schedule of the games is right.
`Right now, we have more than 10 states that have confirmed their bid for to host the 2028 edition which clearly is a good omen for us.
“Before we do beg states to host the NSF, but now we have 10 states bidding to host.
“This is a good approach for our sport we hope they are taking notes of our reforms and where to coming in,” he said.
“We have also agreed on a fixed calendar for our NSF which would be between November and December.
“If we have any reason to move the sports festival forward, it shouldn’t be more than a month in January and that should be what we have on our heads.
“This will help the media and the states to look for sponsorship.Even the next host wants it to be done in September,” he said. (NAN)
