EKO 2012: NWF Sanctions Anambra For Featuring A cameroonian.

The Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, NWF, has stripped off  Anambra State of three Gold medals won the 77 weight kilogramme by its weightlifter, John Baptis, who was discovered to be a Cameroonian in the weightlifting event which took place on Sunday at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Gym.

John Baptis, outstanding performance in the Snatch, clean and jerk and total prompted other participating states to complain officially to the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation over the eligibility of Baptis whose records in weightlifting was unknown to the NWF.

Following their quest to confirm the eligibility of Baptis, the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation swung into action and set up a jury who now went into its archive to search for the records of Baptis and it was discovered that the mercenary was not on the radar of the NWF and neither has he never featured in any tournament organised by the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation.

President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Chimdi Ejiogu, confirmed that Baptis medals had been withrawn following the discovery that the weightlifter was not a Nigerian, adding that the Federation got to know about the trend during the Snatch event at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Gym, inside the National Stadium, Surulere, but he was allowed to complete the event in the Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total.

According to him, Baptis competed for Cameroon in the London 2012 Olympic qualifier, in Kenya as he mentioned that Anambra State will be fined for featuring an illegible athlete at the EKO 2012, a move he said negate the rules and regulations of the National Sports Festival..

To this end, Majinedum Seldom of Kaduna State who was initiated placed second is now being decorated with a Gold medal for amassing 126 points while Rabiu Ibrahim of Nasarawa State who came third before the NWF verdict is now decorated with a Silver medal.