2023-08-03 16:00:07
A 20-year-old Somali, Nasra Abukar Ali, made infamous by setting the slowest record in University Games history in the women’s 100m in 21′′81. But beyond the race, which she obviously finished in last place, 10 seconds from the winner, this poor performance created a big controversy in Somalia.
The runner in question would be none other than the niece of Khadija Aden Dahir, president of the Somali Athletics Federation.
Somalia’s Ministry of Sports has pledged to investigate the selection process that led to an underprepared athlete representing Somalia at the FISU World University Games in Chengdu, China.
The controversy centers around Nasra Abukar, a 20-year-old with limited running… pic.twitter.com/ZMVVyyFdFJ
— Somalia Live Update (@HassanIstiila) August 2, 2023
Faced with this clear act of nepotism, the Somali sports minister issued a public apology and ordered the suspension of the president. Mohamed Barre Mohamud said his ministry did not know how Nasra Abukar Ali was selected to compete in the 100m. The Somali Universities Union also said it had not sent any runners to China as part of an official Somali team.
“A national tragedy”
This Wednesday, the Somali Olympic Committee announced the suspension of the president of the athletics federation. She is accused of “national defamation”. “It is clear to the ministry that Nasra Abukar Ali is not an athlete and that Madame Khadija has committed an act of abuse of power and defamation of the nation,” the sports ministry said.
The images of the race, which went around the world, greatly disappointed the population. “It is a national tragedy. Those who took this girl to China embarrassed her and the entire Somali nation,” Ali Said Faqi wrote on Twitter.
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