Nigerian Quarter-Miler Uko Blames AFN for Doping Ban, Cites Corruption

Nigerian quarter-miler Imaobong Nse Uko has publicly accused the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) of negligence and systemic corruption, which she says led to her recent two-year suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

Uko’s name appeared in the AIU’s June 2025 sanctions list, indicating a violation committed on June 5, 2024. While the AIU did not specify the exact nature of the infraction, it falls under non-analytical anti-doping violations, such as repeated whereabouts failures. The 21-year-old athlete has been declared ineligible until July 23, 2026, with all competitive results from the date of the violation annulled.

In a strongly worded statement shared via social media on Saturday evening, the 2021 World U20 triple gold medallist expressed deep frustration, stating her ban resulted from “a flawed system and a corrupt federation that failed to support me when I needed it most.”

Uko explained that her troubles began when she encountered persistent technical issues while trying to update her information on the AIU’s online whereabouts system mandatory for athletes under global drug-testing protocols.

Despite repeated attempts to seek help from AFN officials, Uko claims her appeals were ignored or met with indifference.

“I struggled with the online system required to report my whereabouts… despite reaching out repeatedly for assistance, I received endless excuses about network problems and was told to wait,” she wrote. “My messages were often left unanswered, and I felt completely abandoned.”

During her disciplinary hearing, Uko said she confronted federation representatives about their failure to provide support during the crucial reporting period. However, she claims they responded evasively and attempted to blame her for submitting the information incorrectly an allegation she firmly denies.

She named specific officials she contacted for help, including Mbachi Louis and a woman identified as Mrs. Onos. According to Uko, both initially ignored her messages, only for Mrs. Onos to later reach out without offering any meaningful support. She also mentioned that AFN Assistant Secretary Taldang had promised to assist but ultimately failed to do so.

“This situation has exposed the deep-rooted corruption and negligence within the federation that is supposed to protect our interests as athletes,” Uko added.

A rising star in Nigerian athletics, Uko shot to prominence by claiming gold in the 400m, women’s 4x400m relay, and mixed 4x400m relay at the 2021 World U20 Championships in Nairobi.

Reaffirming her innocence, she insisted that her suspension is a consequence of institutional failure not personal misconduct.

“I refuse to remain silent while they abuse their authority and jeopardize our careers,” she said. “It’s time for athletes to unite and demand accountability and transparency from those in power.”