100metres Hurdles World record holder, Tobiloba Amusan arrived Nigeria right on time to compete in the two-days national trials slated for Benin City, Edo State from Wednesday and Thuraday.•
The reigning World champion had promised to arrive from Sweden today after Athletic Federation of Nigeria rulled that any athletes who failed to compete in the national trial should forget about 2023 World Championships billed for Budapest, Hungary.
Her arrival swells the numbers of foreign based in Benin camp to 14
AFN’s threat came just as 12 U.S.-based stars trained at the Samuel Ogbamudia Stadium, Benin City, on Sunday, in preparation for the event, which the country will use to select its flag bearers to the World Championships.
AFN Secretary General, Rita Mosindi, warned, that any foreign-based athlete, who failed to attend the national trials, should consider him/herself out of the trip to Budapest.
“AFN has a policy in the selection of athletes for major competitions, including the World Championships. If you don’t come for the national trials, you won’t go to Budapest.
“The only condition for the AFN to consider such athlete for the World Championship is, if he or she tenders a genuine case of ill-health. In that case, our medical team has to be notified and the board has to take a decision on it. For now, no athlete has informed me of his or her absence from the national trials.
“We have only heared rumour that some athletes would not be here for the national trials, but the rules are clear. If you don’t come, forget the ticket,” Mosinde stated.
