52 — S UNDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, NOVEMBER 22 , 2015
AAG fall-out: Chukwumerije blasts taekwondo ‘rumour mongers’ C
Doping: Russian whistleblower goes into hiding
By Ben Efe
ONCERNED senior Ta e k w a n d o practitioners have called on the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation and National Sports Commission to urgently dispatch justice on the alleged physical assault on three female players by Chika Chukwumerije. But the three time Olympian, stated that the group was made of people who are just out to frustrate efforts to move the sport forward in the country, adding he will be ready to talk to them, if they have something significant to present with regards to the development of taekwondo. He denied ever assaulting any athlete in Congo as being claimed by the group, whom he described as ‘rumour mongers’ The concerned senior Taekwondo practitioners submitted that the NTF president, GM George Ashiru set up a disciplinary committee led by ACP Gideon Akinsola to investigate the matter and report on November 6, but the issue seems to have been swept under the carpet. They accused Chukwumerije, a member of the NTF board of gatecrashing the camp of the athletes in Congo. “His name was not on the official delegation to the games. Subsequently, he invaded the camp and turned himself to an emergency coach, thereby compromising the work of the coaching team, which ultimately resulted in the dismal performance by the team at the games. “The high point of Chukwumerije’s outing was his alleged physical assault on three female athletes which resulted in serious body and psychological injuries on those affected directly by his actions,”said a statement signed by Grandmaster George Akinola. He urged the NTF to act dispassionately in the matter and apportion blame to avert a re-occurrence. “We, the concerned Nigeria Taekwondo Practitioners, urgently call on the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation and the National Sports Commission to make immediate pronouncements on this misdemeanor as it is capable of generating
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HE sportswoman who blew the whistle on doping in Russian athletics is in hiding abroad, pursued by a barrage of criticism from former colleagues and officials at home who accuse her of betraying her country. Yulia Stepanova, an international runner who was herself suspended for doping offences, secretly recorded Russian coaches and athletes over almost two years describing how they used performanceenhancing drugs. The 29-year-old’s evidence formed a major part of an investigation that led to Russian athletes being suspended from international competition this month, triggering the deepest crisis in Russian sport since the boycott-hit 1980 Moscow Olympics.
•KICKING...Chika Chukwumerije in action at the London 2012 Olympics. noxious implications that could compromise Nigeria Taekwondo in particular and Nigeria sports development in general.” Chukwumerije, said nothing of such happened in Congo, rather the team was focused on winning medals for the country and this group are only trying to destabilise efforts being made to see that Nigeria remains a force in world Taekwondo. “Do they know the meaning of assault? I am a gentleman, and for goodness sake will never descend to that level. I am the athletes’ representative on the board and I know how difficult things have been. These guys are just a bunch of jokers. I would rather not listen to them. “I will only respond when the NTF and the National Sports Commission ask questions. They are the bodies in charge of the sport. Right now, I am so focused on how Nigerian taekwondo will be in the next four years. “I want to see kids from 5-10 actively involved in Taekwondo. We are pushing to have the sport in all the schools and also have a Nigerian league. These are the things I am eager to talk about and anyone who is interested should contact me,” said Chukwumerije. Nigerian taekwondo athletes won a gold, four silver and two bronze medals at the African Games.
African Title: ‘I’m Unstoppable,’ Skoro Declares
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EST African Boxing Union Featherweight champion, Waidi “Skoro” Usman, has declared himself unstoppable by any boxer in his weight division. Skoro, who is billed to take a shot at the African Boxing Union (ABU) title at the GOtv Boxing Night next month, made the declaration in Lagos on Friday. A gold medalist at the National Sports Festival in 2006, Skoro regards himself as an explosive puncher and methodical boxer. “ At this point, I am ready, willing and able to defeat any opponent. I am a powerful puncher. I train with boxers in higher weight categories. If any opponent runs into my punch, he is finished. I can’t wait for December to come so I can add the ABU title to my list of honours. I want to do it for myself and for Nigeria,” he said. Skoro boasts an impressive record. “I have come a very long way. As an amateur, I was undefeated. I three times that champion in my weight category at Ajeromi/ Ifelodun Local Government. As a professional, I have had 15 fights and lost just one. That should tell my opponent that he is coming to face fire at the GOtv Boxing Night,” he raved. The boxer is thrilled at current developments in the sport, which he said was close to dying of poor organisation and funding.
Osmanlispor block Aminu from U23 AFCON
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MAR Aminu will not feature for Nigeria at this month’s U23 AFCON after his Turkish club Osman-lispor refused to release him for the competition which will produce Africa’s flag bearers at next year ’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Aminu starred for Nigeria’s Dream Team VI at the recent All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville, where Nigeria finished third. However, he suffered a knee injury at the AAG, which sidelined him for several weeks and this may well have informed his club not to release him for the forthcoming U23 championship in Senegal.
•Skoro
Dalung: I’ll not be minister of football
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PORTS minister, Solomon Dalung said he will give equal attention to all sports during his tenure. Mr. Dalung who was speaking on Friday in Lagos stated that his major prioty now is to ensure that Nigeria post a good result in the Rio 2016 Olympics. “I’ll make sure as I preside over this ministry, I do not
remain a minister of a particular sport, whether of basketball, football, or boxing which I belong, but I’ll ensure I be a minister of sport where everybody is given regular support and encourage-ment so that they can make this country proud.” He said at the 2015 Nigerian Sports Award held in Lagos. “We need to come together
and harness our potentials, and try to sanitize the industry by ensuring transparency so that investors can put in money, and I think that government alone cannot sustain viably the sport industry. I appeal to all investors that we are going to create the enabling environment so that investment will yield positive result.