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By: Tunde Oyekola, Ilorin.
The Chairman, Kwara State Sports Commission, Bola Magaji, has promised to take necessary action against the state’s athletics officials responsible for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s suspension of the Kwara State Athletics Association.
Magaji disclosed this at a press conference in Ilorin on Monday, while also indicating that moves were in top gear to have the AFN review their stance on Kwara.
“We have the future of young outlets to think about and officers responsible for the lapse resulting in the sanction will face the music,” he said.
AFN placed an indefinite ban on the Kwara association, after it discovered the association was still engaging coach the banned Hammid Muritala in athletics activities.
Muritala is serving a 10-year ban from athletics after admitting to have fed a youth athlete with banned substances two years ago in Ilorin.
Rather than stay off athletics activities, the coach was part of the state’s contingent to Benin City, the Edo State capital, for the recent Golden League, to the consternation of stakeholders.
Explaining why the sports commission shouldn’t be blamed, Magaji said the banned coach had been on suspension since October 14, 2022, before they got the AFN’s ban notice February.
He stated that the commission was unaware that Muritala was part of the state’s contingent to Benin Cit.
“The names of 10 athletes and a coach was submitted to represent Kwara, and coach Muritala was not included. The notice of the coach travelling with the athletes came when the commission’s secretary, Mr Tsado Haruna, tried to find out about their movement on June 12, 2023,” Muritala stated.
“Subsequent to the above, I gave the directive to Mr Haruna to issue queries to the head of coaching, Patience Lawal; association secretary, Kafilat Aliyu; coach Oluwaseyi Awe and the suspended coach Muritala.
“Their replies to the queries will determine the next line of action.”
On the athletics ban in the state, Magaji said the AFN had not been officially communicated to the commission by AFN on the matter.
