BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Chairman Gombe State Athletics Association, Honourable Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe emphatically stated that his association and officials of Nigeria Athletics Association Technical Officials (NAATO) are not part of the proposed athletics competition which commences Tuesday at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe State.
The proposed athletics competition is put together by North East Development Commission (NEDC).
In his statement signed by Gara-Gombe, he described the tournament as sub-standard that fails to meet the requirements.
“All athIetics stakeholders are hereby notified that on no account should any ahlete, NAATO officials participate in the proposed athIetics competition planned to commence today, October 22, 2024 at the Pantami Stadium.
“It is important to note that AthIetics World-wide have rules out of engagements which all stakeholders must obey, therefore, failure to meet these rules by the organisers, the Gombe State Athletics Association has decided to exit from the competition in accordance to the rules of the AthIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and by extension the World AthIetics,”the statement reads.
Gara-Gombe in his statement gave reasons why his association is boycotting the competition.
According to him the competition is below athIetics standards both in procurement of running facilities and medical as well as insurance requirements.
He said the organisers of the competition are largely unknown to leaders of Gombe State Athletics Association as facilities for the competition are either sub-standard or none existant.
He also revealed that all NAATO officials were not formally invited for the competition.
Gara-Gombe insisted that his association and athletes cannot be ridiculed or shamed by ignorant state machineries and directed its officials not to participate in the event.
“Failure to heed to the instructions will attract severe sanctions in accordance with the ethics of NAATO. Also any athlete registered would risk sanctions and more penalties,”he said.
The Gombe State Athletics Association hierarchy therefore urged members to synegise with the state athletics association for growth and talent discovery.