Somalia suspends athletics chief after video of slow runner goes viral, amid accusations of nepotism

The chairwoman of Somalia’s nationwide athletics federation has been suspended amid accusations of nepotism after a seemingly untrained feminine sprinter represented the African nation on the World College Video games in China, and took greater than 20 seconds to complete the 100-meter race, far behind her opponents.

The Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports activities launched an announcement directing the Somalia Olympic Committee to droop athletics federation chairwoman Khadija Aden Dahir amid allegations that 20-year-old Nasra Abukar — who completed final within the race on Tuesday — was a relative of hers and was given the possibility to compete on the video games due to her household ties. 

Video of the agonizingly gradual run by Abukar went viral on social media this week. 

Minister of Youth and Sports activities Mohamed Barre Mohamud provided a public apology Wednesday and stated his ministry didn’t understand how Abukar was chosen to compete within the ladies’s 100 on the pupil video games in Chengdu. He known as the efficiency embarrassing for Somalia.

Somalia’s college union stated it had not despatched any runners to China as a part of an official Somali crew.

In her qualifying race, Abukar was instantly left behind by the opposite runners and completed about 10 seconds after the winner. Regardless of ending final, she did just a little skip within the air as she crossed the end line.

CBS Information reached out to the Somali Athletics Federation for remark however obtained no response after greater than 24 hours.