Paris 2024: Ajose blames NBF for boxers poor outing

Nigeria’s boxing legend, Segun Ajose has blamed the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) for the poor outing of ‘Team Nigeria’ boxers in Paris 2024 Olympics.
Ajose took to the coaches platform to express his regrets at the poor performance of Nigerian pugilists stating that poor judgement, nepotism and placing incompetence above competence and experience by the Boxing Federation contributed greatly to the country not putting up a good performance in Paris even as he posited that the doping issue that led to the disqualification of one of the boxers could be traceable to the coach that took the team to the Olympics.
According to the member of ‘Team Nigeria’ boxing at 2000 Sydney Olympics and one time number one contender to the WBC Super Lightweight title, it’s unfortunate that in the last six months, three Nigerian elite boxers failed doping test which is a stain in the country’s boxing; saying there’s need to curtail the anomaly.
He expressed surprise that a person who failed doping test as a boxer and is close to the fighters that have tested positive to performance enhancing drugs was allowed to handle ‘Team Nigeria’ boxing at the Olympics.
” At the 1999 All African Games in Johannesburg, South Africa, myself and one other boxer won 2 Gold medals for Nigeria, however, the other boxer failed dope test and was stripped of his medal but because social media was not so popular then, the matter didn’t get adequate attention and as such coaches and boxers couldn’t learn from it.

” Few years later, in 2002, at the Commonwealth Games camp, another boxer, Adura Olalehin failed doping and as a result was decamped. And in 2024 African Games Camp two boxers namely; Shukurat Kareem and Dolapo Omole who are known to be very close to Adura failed doping test.
“The result of the tests did not come out till after the African Games. When the results came out, Shukurat admitted her mistake and did not contest the result and was sanctioned immediately.
“Dolapo contested the result and asked for sample B to be tested and that was why he was in the Olympics camp, as the case was not yet concluded.
“When result of sample B came out positive, he was immediately sanctioned and that was why he didn’t make the Olympics team
” But surprisingly Adura lied to the Nigerian public, claiming that he won’t be going to the Olympics due to “knee injury thereby covering up a doping scandal which looks suspicious.
” And as if that was not enough, another boxer under his care, Cynthia Ogunsemilore failed doping making his role more suspicious”, stressed the former African and Commonwealth champion.

Ajose noted that it’s a common knowledge that young boxers can easily be influenced by their coaches, as they’re highly regarded and respected by boxers and as such the role of the coach must be properly scrutinized.

He posited that for Nigerian boxing to be reformed and brought back to it’s glorious days the following questions must be answered by the boxing body

1) Did Adura Olalehin fail doping test in 2002?
2) Is the NBF current administration aware of this?
3) Is there any influence of Adura Olalehin on any of the boxers that failed doping test?
4) Why did Adura Olalehin lie to cover up a boxer’s dope case? and
5) Is Adura complicit in any of the boxers who failed doping case?

Ajose concluded by saying that it’s of utmost importance to have a thorough investigation of the matter so that the NBF and the Ministry of Sports can get the true answers to these questions and make the world not see them as being complicit.
However, in refuting the allegations, Adura also took to the platform to accuse Ajose of being jealous of his rising profile noting that he has never taken performance enhancing drugs nor encouraged boxers under his care to do so