Governing Bodies
Drug cheat takes Olympic oath at Tokyo 2020
Belarus has appointed convicted drugs cheat Ivan Tsikhan as its team captain for the delayed Olympic Games here, where the country’s controversial President Aleksandr Lukashenko warned its athletes would be the target of political pressure.
The 44-year-old hammer thrower has been appointed to the honorary role following a vote by the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus (NOCRB) Athletes’ Commission.
Tsikhan was stripped of the Olympic silver medal he had won at Athens 2004 after a re-test of his sample in 2012 from those Games showed traces of banned anabolic steroids.
As a result of his 2012 re-test, Tsikhan was also stripped of the gold medals he had won at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki and the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg.
Despite this, Tsikhan read out on oath on behalf of Belarus’ athletes in front of Lukashenko where he said: “I promise that during the Olympic Games in Tokyo we will compete fairly and without doping.”
There had been doubts that Belarus would even be able to compete under their own flag at Tokyo 2020 following allegations that the NOCRB had politically discriminated against athletes for taking part in protests aimed at Lukashenko following his controversial re-election last August, which has sparked widespread protests in the country.
Lukashenko and his son Viktor, who succeeded him as NOCRB President in February, are both banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from attending Tokyo 2020 as a result, although the threat of Belarus being suspended appears to have receded.
Aleksandr Lukashenko took the opportunity at a farewell before the team left for Japan to attack the IOC and other International Federations who have stripped Belarus of hosting rights for major events.
“I want to tell you that your sporting achievements are not only a personal triumph,” he said.
“Today they are akin to other kinds of victories, up to political ones.
“However, sport became a bargaining chip in politics a long time ago, unfortunately.
“Your successes should become a response to those people who first took everything they could from the country, and now wish it and you defeat.
“A response to those states that are strangling or trying to strangle us with sanctions.
“Expectations are very high.
“Of course, you understand it.
“But this burden is no heavier than the challenges you have already overcome.
“I know in detail what you have had to go through.
“But you stood your ground.
“The main and decisive step remains.
“You have faced it all.
“You took these attacks like true athletes, showing patience, will and courage.
“You still need these qualities now in order to defend the honour of our Belarus in sporting arenas in Tokyo.
“You know that your rivals will be incredibly strong.
“Restrictions related to public health and increased control by various structures will also create certain difficulties.
“Pressure with political overtones is not excluded either.”
Belarus is set to be represented by 109 athletes in 20 sports at Tokyo 2020.
Since making its debut in the Summer Olympics at Atlanta in 1996 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Belarus has won at least one gold at every Games.
Its best performance came at Beijing 2008 when the team won a total of 14 medals, including three gold.
The medallists included Tsikhan, winner of a bronze which he was initially stripped of following a positive test for testosterone, before having it restored following a successful appeal because of an error made by the laboratory in China.
His team mate Vadim Devyatovskiy, winner of the silver in the hammer, also tested positive for testosterone but was allowed to keep the medal because the same error was made by the laboratory.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport took the highly unusual step of warning this did not mean they were cleared of suspicion, insisting the verdict “should not be interpreted as an exoneration”.
Tsikhan, who controversially replaced Devyatovskiy as President of the Belarus Athletic Federation last September, promised that the athletes would make proud their country proud.
“We know that during the Olympic Games the entire country, the entire nation will support us and root for us,” he said.
“We also understand the responsibility and hopes the country pins on every athlete and coach on the team.”
-insidethegames
–
Governing Bodies
Sanusi set for record-extending tenure as Nigeria’s football politicians assemble in Asaba
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Speculations gathered ahead of the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Football Federation holding in Asaba on Friday have it that tenure elongation for the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, is a major item on the agenda.
Neither formal confirmation nor denial has been issued since one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria, ThisDay dropped the hint.
The agenda of the meeting is also not made public. Dr, Sanusi is the longest-serving General Secretary in history having been in office from 30 March 2015 making 3,476 days or nine years six months and four days.
It easily drowned that of his closest rival in tenure – Sani Toro whose tenure from 21 December 1993 to 3 May 1999 is merely 2020 days or five years, six months and 12 days.
Thus, no one had enjoyed a longer period in office than the incumbent, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi. It is speculated that the tenure will be extended as NFF has reported that all delegates have arrived in the Delta State capital by Thursday evening.
The NFF Annual General Assembly, the first of which took place 90 years ago in Lagos on 19 February 1934, is the biggest assemblage of football administrators and stakeholders in the country.
In one such meeting on 24 July 2008 in Makurdi, the football body changed its name from NFA to NFF.
This year, according to a press release by the NFF, the plenary will have in attendance, the chairmen and secretaries of football associations in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, chairmen and secretaries of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nationwide League One, as well as chairmen and secretaries of the referees’ association, players’ union and coaches’ association. This group of 88 makes up the Congress.
They are joined by the members of the NFF Executive Committee and the management team as well as former NFF Presidents and General Secretaries.
The Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, is announced as the special guest. Nigeria’s Member of the FIFA Council, Amaju Melvin Pinnick is also expected as well as a representative of the West African Football Union (WAFU B).
The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Francis Oborevwori will declare the General Assembly open.
Venue is the Unity Hall of the Delta State Government House.
Governing Bodies
Like in Egypt, former Nigerian Olympian, Sadiq Abdulahi wants Tinubu to declare ‘State of Emergency’ in Sports
Former Nigerian tennis player and Olympian, Prof. Sadiq Abdulahi has called for drastic action to arrest the decline of Nigeria in global sporting events.
The former tennis player who is now a professor in the United States declared that the “failure to win a medal at the regular 2024 Paris Olympics, the few medals at the Paris Paralympic and the fallout at the National Youth Sports Festival has exposed the deep problems facing the sport’s sector.”
He wants Nigeria to have the same approach that the Egyptian president has taken while reacting to the country’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olypics.
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ordered a comprehensive evaluation of sports federations that participated at the Paris Olympic Games, following a mission report submitted by the country’s sports minister.
According to Prof. Abdulahi, the National Sports Federations charged with the preparation of elite athletes have failed to do their job despite the cry for funding from the government.
“Federal Government cannot adequately fund all the Olympics sports. It is impossible.
“By declaring a state of emergency, new people, new approaches and new funding models will be identified. More importantly, the Federal Government will redefine grassroots sports development.
“We will lay sustainable foundation for sports development.”
Continuing, he called for the return of the National Sports Commission (NSC) which enabling decree was abolished through Decree No. 7 of 1991, but came back through presidential proclamation under Sani Abacha before it was abolished again.
The original NSC was established in 1964 as National Sports Council before the promulgation of Decree 34 of 1971 which legalised it as the apex Federal Government agency to control, regulate and organize sports.
“The FG may now bring back the National Sports Commission or the National Sports Authority. Our emerging national economy with the full participation of the private sector can support this new beginning. I hope this helps.”
RELATED STORY: President Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul
Governing Bodies
CAF gives Yoruba and Arabic interpretations of ‘OLA’ the Super Cup 2024 Official Match Ball
The Confédération African of Football, CAF, has given the linguistics interpretation of OLA, the confederation’s official match balls produced by Puma which has also unveiled a special edition for the Super Cup duel holding on Friday in Saudi Arabia.
According to CAF, OLA, symbolizing the dynamic and energetic nature of African football, means “wealth,” “honour,” and “respect” in Yoruba and “rise” and “success” in Arabic.
The OLA ball stands out with its vibrant design and cultural significance. “OLA”
The ball is a mix of black and gold, representing power and sophistication. The ball will be the centrepiece of the eagerly-awaited match between the two giants of African football.
NFF Communication director unfolds 20 Points of a 20-hour ordeal on Libyan soil
African football legends, Adebayor and Aubameyang condemn Libya’s treatment of Super Eagles
BREAKING! CAF wades into the Libya-Nigeria Airport episode
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
Players boycott Libyan national team
-
AFCON5 days ago
Billiat’s penalty seals Zimbabwe’s 1-0 win over Namibia
-
AFCON1 week ago
Eguavoen unfolds Super Eagles’ squad for back-to-back duel with Libya
-
AFCON7 days ago
Facts & Figures as AFCON 2025 qualifiers enter Matchday 3
-
AFCON6 days ago
AFCON 2025 in Morocco: Everything you need to know
-
AFCON5 days ago
Libya’s captain, Faisal Al-Badri alleges poor treatment in Nigeria
-
Uncategorized7 days ago
CAF compels Kwasi Appiah to step down from Ghana FA
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
Fastest World Cup final scorer is dead!