AFN Clears Air on Imaobong Uko’s AIU Two-year Ban Ordeal 

Duro Ikhazuagbe 

Against attempts by Nigerian quarter miler, Imaobong Nse Uko, to bulk pass her two-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for three missed whereabouts dope testing, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has laid blames squarely at the doorsteps of the athlete.

In a statement issued by the AFN yesterday, the federation said that the whereabouts filling was the responsibility of any elite athlete. 

“Athletes are required to provide the following whereabouts information on a quarterly basis:  Home address, Email address, Phone number, An address for overnight accommodations, Regular activities, such as training, work, and school, the locations and the times of these activities.

“Her failure to do the needful is the reason why she was handed a two years ban  to expire in July 2026.

AFN insisted that athletes “are role models and they have important responsibilities to protect the integrity of their sport. Providing whereabouts is about protecting the athlete’s right to clean sport,” observed the AFN in the statement posted on its official WhatsApp page by Chairman of its Media and Publicity Committee, Maxwell Kumoye.

The statement stressed that “ It is the International Federations and National Anti-Doping Organizations that are responsible for determining if an athlete  is required to provide whereabouts information or not, it’s not part of AFN’s duties. Ours is more of advisory role.”

The AFN however said that it will continue to carry out its drug advocacy campaign to the athletes, coaches and technical officials.

“We will stick to our due diligence in communicating anti-doping rules to athletes through our Doping Department headed by Professor Ken Anugweje.”

The last of such seminars took place during the just concluded National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged Gateway Games 2024 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Some of Nigeria’s former athletes equally exonerated the AFN from blame, insisting that AIU has made the process of getting tested easy.

“AIU has made the process super easy to follow. They even have recorded step by step videos to follow. If somehow that should fail, they have FAQ section and a site an athlete can go to for any needed assistance. An athlete is notified of any missed test. 

“How can Imaobong or anyone explain making the same mistake several times? Nigeria did not fail her, she failed herself,” observed one of the ex internationals.