The Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) yesterday fined Delta and Kano states N50,000 each for using ineligible weightlifters at the going 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos.
NWF Secretary Uche Onwumeh said that a female weightlifter, Bilikis Otunla, 69kg, was caught representing Delta after attending two international competitions.
Onwumeh said she was identified by some officials and reported to the judges, leading to her suspension from the Games by the federation’s adjudicators.
“An investigation was carried and evidences confirmed that Otunla was faulty and Delta was therefore told to pay a fine of N50, 000 before the end of the competition,’’ she said.
The secretary said that failure by Delta to make the payment to the NWF would result to the withholding of the medals won in the event.
According to her, the Delta State Weightlifting Association coach is also warned to desist from acts capable of violating the rules governing the Games from achieving its aims.
Also, a male weightlifter, Aminu Aliyu, 77kg, from Kano was also discovered to have been using three different names to participate at the last three sports festivals after a petition by Delta.
Onwumeh said Aliyu participated in the Gateway Games in 2006 in Abeokuta, KADA Games in 2010 in Kaduna and Garden City Games in 2011 in Port Harcourt.
He was said to have used Aminu Aliyu, Aliyu Suleiman and Aminu Sale for the Games respectively.
“The athlete has been dishonest in three consecutive festivals but luck was against him this time around,’’ she said.
Onwumeh warned that the NWF would not tolerate the use of ineligible athletes and urged states to desist from any act that would bring the federation’s name to disrepute.
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