By Isaac Afolabi
Head coach of the Nigerian boxing team to the ongoing 2024 Olympics in Paris France,Adura Olalehin has reacted to the allegations leveled against him,the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) and the Sports Ministry by another national boxer Segun Ajose as untrue and unfair.
It will be recalled that Segun Ajose in an interview circulated in some media platforms accused the Nigeria boxing federation(NBF), Ministry of Sports and Coach Adura Olalehin for fielding incompetent boxers and influencing the boxers negatively leading to the failed doping test and defeat in Paris.
Reacting in an interview, Coach Olalehin expressed disappointment over the accusations describing Ajose a former national pujilist of not been fair to the Ministry, himself and the players whom he said were devastated by the current situation.
Olalehin a former international boxer that has represented Nigeria at so many competitions explained that the athletes in Paris were well trained and qualified to participate at the Olympics, stressing that Cynthia Ogunsemilore in particular was a sure medal hopeful based on her performances and sparring while training in Germany ahead of the Olympic but the case of failed dope test remain a heartbreak to the team.
While further explaining the situation,Coach Olalehin said though the case of failed test was still been investigated,the athlete were adequately guided and educated on the negative effect of taking any baned substances.
“You see,all the boxers were all trained and educated on the adverse effect of banned substance and they were all eager and ready to compete clean at the Olympic”
Coach Olalehin who has a background of being a boxer, charged Segun Ajose to be a model, rather than discrediting efforts of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), Ministry of Sports who are doing everything possible to bring back the glory of Nigeria boxing at the international level rather than tormenting the mental health of the young boxers who were still in pain at the ongoing 2024 Olympics on social media and tarnishing the image of other boxers at the international level.
Responding to the dope failed test in leveled personally against him”Adura Olalehin” by Segun Ajose, Coach Olalehin said he has been training and representing Nigeria in so many international competition with certified medical doctors in Nigeria and overseas and have never taking any substance to influence his performance in the ring and therefore won’t allow any athletes under his watch to take banned substance.
“I have been a role model to young boxers back there in Nigeria and overseas, supporting them morally and otherwise to aspire for the top and nothing will ever move me to use banned substance or influence, encourage my athletes and young boxers to do that. I’m a clean, professional boxer said Olalehin”
The American based Nigerian boxer also advise Ajose to stop tarnishing the image of Nigeria boxers,the Nigeria Boxing Federation(NBF) saying his comments over the years have been negatively affecting the team bringing misfortune to the country’s effort at resuscitation boxing among other nations of the world.
While speaking on the none inclusion of coach Anthony Konyegwachie in the team,Coach Olalehin said several questions are begging for answer which he would love coach Anthony Konyegwachie to personally respond to.
” Ajose’s aim was to damage my image, Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) and the Ministry of sports to the outside world,the male boxer Adams Olaore lost to Uzbekistan Oralbay Aibek,we noted the mistakes and we are already working on it ,it’s painful that Segun Ajose has been on the Internet discrediting our efforts, engaging in unfounded allegations,the media attack sincerely are not fair.
He added that Ajose is simply engaging himself in sports politics, blackmailing people and the federation stressing that such move is unnecessary,rather he should be a professional boxer who is ready to grow the game in Nigeria.
Coach Olelehin,a silver medalist at the 2006 Commonwealth games concluded by saying that no amount of threat would stop him from giving back to the country which made him,train and support athletes,focus on rebranding Nigeria image in boxing and winning laurels saying he believe that Nigeria will win gold in boxing someday.