Somali Athletics Chief Suspended After Slowest-Ever 100-Metre Sprint

Slowest-Ever” 100-Metre Sprint

At the World University Games in Chengdu, China, 20-year-old Nasra Abukar Ali, representing Somalia, finished last in the 100-meter sprint with a record time of 21.81 seconds. Her time was more than 10 seconds slower than the winning mark of 11.58 seconds, leading to it being referred to as the “slowest-ever” time in the history of the 100-meter event.

Suspension of Somali Athletics Chief

Following the embarrassing performance, the head of Somalia’s athletics, Khadijo Aden Dahir, has been suspended by the Sports Minister Mohamed Barre Mohamud. She was accused of “abuse of power, nepotism, and defaming the name of the nation.” The Minister also expressed his intent to pursue legal action in response to the incident.

Questions Surrounding Athlete’s Experience

Nasra Abukar Ali’s selection to compete at the games was not known to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Barre Mohamud, who apologized for the event. The Sports Minister revealed that the amateur runner had no prior experience in running or any other sport, raising questions about the selection process for international competitions.