The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has suspended Kwara State Athletics Association indefinitely from all athletics activities in the country.
The suspension was following the appearance ban Track and Field Coach, Hammid Muritala at the just concluded 2023 AFN Golden League in Benin, Edo State.
Coach Muri, as he is fondly called was banned for anti-doping rules violation for a period of 10 (Ten) years for allegedly doping a junior athlete, Fatimah Abdul Aziz at the National Youth Games held in Ilorin, Kwara State in 2021.
Despite his ban, the coach is said to be parading himself around and coaching athletes at athletics competitions with the knowledge of Kwara State Athletics Association.
According to the AFN, ”this action also amounts to violation of Rule 2.9 of World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.’
The AFN says the suspension ‘shall remain, pending the outcome of further investigation.’
Kwara State Government took Hammid Muritala to the 2022 National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta and participated the ‘Sportmen and Women Rally’ for the re-election bid of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Before leading the state team to the AFN Golden League in Benin, Hammid Muritala has been handling the state athletes with full knowledge of the Sports Commission.
With the suspension, Kwara State Athletics Association will not participate in the forthcoming National Youth Games in Delta State and 2023 National Sports Festival in Ogun State.