The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has shed more light on why it did not take some athIetes to the forthcoming coming 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Federation explained that the selection criteria put forward for the Olympics were accurate, stating that the athIetes selected to run in the 100m are the best in Nigeria.

“Favour Ashe's Personal Best this season is 9.94 seconds and this gives him a direct qualification to the Games and the same applies to Godson Brume with 9.99 seconds,“ the Technical Committee said.

The two other athIetes who are expected to run in the 100m in Paris are ranked 30th and 32nd while the athIetes dropped is ranked 68th in the world this season and his Personal Best of 10.12 seconds date back to 2016.

“How can we drop athIetes that met the entry standard and pick someone that is 68th by world rankings and place 4th in our trials?” The President of AFN Chief Tonobok Okowa asked rhetorically.

On the issue of medical exemptions, the Federation says it's are not unusual. Stating that It took the decision based on expert medical advice as there were indications of potential worsening of injuries these athIetes in question were nursing. 

Meanwhile, Sports Minister, Senator John Owen Enoh, has commended the AthIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) on athIetes selection methods and approved the selection.

In a chat with AFNNEWS media, AFN President said the Sports Minister has no ears for accusations of Nepotism and incompetence labelled on the federation by mundane interests not served.

According to Okowa, "The Federation has made the best selection and the Sports Minister Senator Enoh is firmly backing the Federation despite efforts to blackmail us by ethic bigots who knows nothing than to latch on slightest dot to criticize without facts.

All Nigeria athIetes are Nigerians and with good performance are eligible to represent the country irrespective of where they come from.

AFN can't be blackmailed to succumb to selecting athIetes based  on who you know in political circle or anywhere, our selection is based on performance and nothing but Performance, Okowa added.