Somali Athletics Official Suspended Following Controversial Performance at World University Games in China
A Somali sports official has been suspended following a viral video that emerged during the International University Sports Federation’s Summer World University Games in China. Nasro Abukar Ali, who represented Somalia in the women’s 100-meter race, finished last in her heat, sparking widespread condemnation.
Ali’s time of 21.81 seconds was more than 8 seconds slower than the second-to-last runner and over 10 seconds behind the heat’s winner. The video of her performance spread quickly online, leading to criticism and speculation about her selection.
Twitter users voiced their disappointment, with one person saying, 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. Another user added, Somalia sent an oversized and unathletic female runner. She came last and recorded the slowest finish in the competition’s history. Reports indicate that the lady had no sporting background and was picked to represent Somalia due to her familial ties with officials.
In response to the incident, Khadijo Aden Dahir, the chairwoman of the Somali Athletics Federation, was suspended shortly after the video went viral. Ms. Dahir has been accused of abusing her power and defaming Somalia. The suspension came after a meeting between the country’s sports ministry and its National Olympic Committee.
In a statement, the Ministry of Youth and Sports declared, The Chairwoman of the Somali Athletics Federation, Ms. Khadijo Aden Dahir, has engaged in acts of abuse of power, nepotism, and defamed the name of the nation in the international arena. The ministry also stated its intention to take legal action against both the Chairman of the Athletics Federation of Somalia and individuals responsible for justifying the Somali University Sports Association.
Mohamed Barre Mohamud, Somalia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, expressed his lack of knowledge about how Ali ended up being chosen for the competition. The Somali university union also clarified that they had not sent any runners to China as part of an official Somali team.
The suspension of the athletics official and the subsequent statements from the Ministry of Youth and Sports highlight the seriousness with which Somalia is addressing this controversy. However, it remains to be seen how the incident will impact the future of Somali athletics and the actions taken against those involved.
This event serves as a reminder of the importance of fair and merit-based selection processes in sports. The controversy surrounding Nasro Abukar Ali’s performance brings attention to the need for transparency and integrity in representing nations at international sporting events.
As the story continues to unfold, it is hoped that measures will be taken to rectify any wrongdoings and restore credibility to the Somali athletics sector.
