Imaobong Nse Uko blames AFN for two-year ban
Aged world U-20 400m champion, Imaobong Nse Uko, is blaming the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for her two-year suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics over whereabouts screw ups. In an announcement shared thru her Instagram web deliver over the weekend, the 20-year-light Nigerian sprinter decried what she termed a “wrong design and a negligent Athletics federation,” accusing the AFN of abandoning her correct thru a excessive interval in her occupation. Uko, who rose to nationwide prominence at trusty 14 years light by a success the 400m title at the 2018 National Sports activities Competition and later claimed gold at the 2021 World U-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, was provisionally suspended in July 2024 after missing three principal doping administration updates within Three hundred and sixty five days. “I struggled for months with the earn design meant to file my whereabouts,” Uko wrote. “No topic reaching out to AFN persistently for lend a hand, I used to be met with excuses and silence. After I used to be indirectly suspended, I used to be devastated.”
Based mostly completely on Sportsnow.com.ng, her third whereabouts failure occurred trusty earlier than the 2024 Nigerian Championships, where she positioned third within the 400m. Since then, she has no longer competed and was severely absent from the 2025 NCAA indoor and launch air seasons, despite closing on Baylor College’s roster. Uko named a lot of federation officers she contacted for lend a hand, claiming that their failure to answer or provide timely support contributed to her suspension. “This ache has uncovered the corruption and negligence within the AFN that's alleged to champion our rights as athletes,” she mentioned.
“I refuse to remain quiet while they misuse their strength and undermine our careers.” The AIU has no longer disclosed the exclaim details of the missed tests, but the case underscores the challenges younger Nigerian athletes face navigating complex anti-doping protocols with out adequate institutional reinforce. No topic the setback, Uko remains defiant and hopeful, calling on fellow athletes to ask accountability and transparency in sports activities governance.
