United States-based sprinter, Favour Ashe, has alleged foul play following his disqualification from the men’s 100 metres final at the ongoing Gateway Games — the 22nd National Sports Festival — held at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, on Saturday.

Ashe, representing Team Delta, was disqualified after turning up for the final race with only one bib number, a breach of competition rules which require athletes to wear two bibs — one on the front and one on the back of their vest.

The sprinter, who currently holds the fastest 100m time by a Nigerian this year at 10.01 seconds, had comfortably qualified for the final earlier in the day. His disqualification came as a surprise to many spectators who had looked forward to seeing him compete for the title.

Speaking to The Guardian shortly after the race, Ashe expressed frustration and disappointment over the incident, insisting that one of his bibs had gone missing under suspicious circumstances.

“The problem started even before the semifinal, when I discovered that one of my bibs had suddenly disappeared from my bag,” he said. “But I explained the situation to the officials at the starter’s blocks, and they allowed me to run. Even after I qualified for the final, I kept searching everywhere for the second bib, but I couldn’t find it. I am sure someone deliberately took it from my bag just to create a problem for me.”

Ashe said he informed officials again before the final and reminded them that he had already been cleared to run the semifinal under the same condition. According to him, the competition rules allow a number to be handwritten using a marker if a bib is missing, and this was done by one of Team Delta’s officials.

“Even the Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) cleared me to run the race,” Ashe added.

“But suddenly, they turned around and disqualified me. I felt so humiliated and disappointed. I did not do anything wrong. As I said, I was a target of some people, but my God will fight for me. It is not the end of the world. All I want to tell Nigerians is that my disqualification in the 100m race after I laboured to get to the final was a planned work. It was painful.”

Team Edo’s Ezeaku Chidera went on to win the men’s 100m title with a time of 10.27 seconds, while Kate Odumoso clinched gold in the women’s final for Team Delta, clocking 11.43 seconds. Odumoso collapsed after the race and was revived by medical personnel at the stadium.

Meanwhile, a competition official who witnessed the incident at the starter’s area offered a different perspective. The official claimed efforts were made to give Ashe time to resolve the bib issue, but the situation changed when the Director General of the Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, intervened.

“We used delay tactics so that Ashe could provide the bib or alternative measure allowed for him to run,” the official said. “But just when he was about to run, the DG came down and asked him directly: ‘Whose fault?’ Ashe admitted, ‘It’s my fault.’ Then Olopade said, ‘If it is your fault, then disqualify him.’ Some people might see that as interference, but to me, Olopade being the chairman of the Main Organising Committee, tried to save Ashe. It seems Ashe was tensed up already and decided to own up. Nobody should blame Olopade because I witnessed everything.”

The official also pointed out that Ashe did not pass through the call room before the race, suggesting that the procedural lapse may have contributed to the confusion.

“If he did, all these wouldn’t have happened,” the official said. (The Guardian)