The Minister of Youth and Sports in Somalia has taken action against the chairwoman of the country’s athletics federation following a tragic incident at the World University Games.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports should step down. It's disheartening to witness such an incompetent government. How could they select an untrained girl to represent Somalia in running? It's truly shocking and reflects poorly on our country internationally. pic.twitter.com/vMkBUA5JSL
— Elham Garaad ✍︎ (@EGaraad_) August 1, 2023
Nasira Abubakar Ali, an untrained 20-year-old female sprinter, took more than 21 seconds to complete the 100-meter race, lagging far behind the other participants. A viral video of the race on social media showed him seemingly outpacing the rest of the field, with the race winner clocking a time of 11.58 seconds.
In response to the incident, Sports Minister Mohamed Bari Mohamed launched an investigation with the Somali National Olympic Committee. The results revealed that Nasira Abubakar Ali was neither a sportsperson nor a runner, raising questions about her participation in the event. As a result, the minister suspended Somali Athletics Federation chairwoman Khadija Aden Daher for alleged abuse of power, defamation of the country’s name in the international arena and vague allegations of nepotism.
Additionally, the investigation exposed a lack of registration for the Somali University Sports Association. In light of these findings, the ministry expressed its intention to take legal action against the Chairman of the Athletics Federation of Somalia and anyone responsible for falsifying the Somali University Sports Association.
The incident has sparked concern and debate in the sports community, as it highlights the importance of fair and legitimate representation in international competitions. The suspension of the federation’s chairwoman reflects the seriousness with which Somali authorities are treating the matter, underscoring the need for transparency and accountability in sports administration.
Going forward, Somalia’s sports governing bodies will likely face increased scrutiny and pressure to ensure that similar incidents are prevented and the country’s representation at international sporting events Appropriate protocols are in place to maintain the integrity of The focus will be on establishing clear eligibility criteria and maintaining a level playing field for all athletes participating at the global level.
