There are strong indications that Nigeria’s participation in this month’s 2017 World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) World Championships holding in Muju, Korea may be in doubt following the cold shoulders from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
With few days to the commencement of the championships which also serves as qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the camp of Nigeria is in confusion as athletes are in the dark of their participation in the competition.
NationSport learnt that the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation has requested for fund from the Sport Ministry since March this year, but they were given the nod to go ahead with their plans but there has not been formal approval despite the efforts by the Federation Secretariat to camp the selected athletes at the High performance Centre in Abuja.
Efforts to get the Taekwondo Federation Secretary General, Taiwo Oriss proved abortive but it was also learnt that some of the athletes have decided to personally fund their trip to the competition in order to put their career on track after missing the last Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
A taekwondo stakeholder who pleaded anonymity also cautioned the delegates to tomorrow’s federations’ election to avoid what befell the country in the sport following its inability to make it to the Rio is the first time since 2004 that Nigeria Taekwondo team would not be competing at the Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, in advance of the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships on June 24 to 30, the WTF is upgrading its anti-doping measures.
A new section of the WTF website includes detailed information on prohibited substances, educational tools, quizzes. It also includes a link to a WADA’ s new Whistleblower Program “Speak up!”, a resource for those who suspect doping is taking place and who wish to report it to the appropriate authority, to unmask doping.
Also, the WTF will be taking further anti-doping measures at the upcoming World Championships in Muju.
On the sidelines of the tourney – expected to be the biggest in taekwondo history – the WTF Athletes Committee will elect two chairpersons (one male, one female) who will automatically become Athlete Integrity Ambassadors. In the latter role, their duties will include promoting values-based anti-doping education among the sport’s athletes.