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“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”
— Abraham Lincoln.
Former world U20 400 metre champion, Imaobong Nse Uko, is currently serving a two-year ban.
She is blaming the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for her suspension, which was handed down by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). Uko missed three tests in 12 months, which is equal to testing positive for a banned substance.
“Despite reaching out repeatedly for help, I was met with endless excuses about network issues and told to wait,” she said.
Her real failure was her ability to understand that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the AIU make is very clear that it is ultimately the athlete’s responsibility to report and make themselves available for testing, and no one else’s.
Failed victim complex
In a statement shared from her Instagram account, Uko wrote that the system is “flawed” and referenced the AFN as “negligent.”
Uko was provisionally suspended in July 2024 after missing three doping control tests. She claims that she struggled with the online self-reporting system. She said that she repeatedly reached out to AFN for help, but was ghosted. There is no reference to reaching out to WADA, the AIU or her fellow athletes.
“Today, I am sharing my story not just for myself, but for every athlete who has faced injustice in silence. Despite reaching out repeatedly for help, I was met with endless excuses about network issues and told to wait,” she said.
“Their response was vague, and they claimed I had incorrectly submitted my information – a claim I adamantly deny,” she says.
There is some conflict in her statements. She claims to have struggled with the online reporting system, however, denies the claim that she incorrectly submitted her information, which sounds like the struggle she was referring to.
“I received a message from Taldang, the Assistant Secretary of the AFN, who promised assistance. Yet, when I needed help the most, he failed to deliver,” she said.
WADA makes it very clear on its website and in a digital pamphlet that it is ultimately the athlete’s responsibility to self report and no one else’s.
“You, and you alone, are responsible for your whereabouts. You can’t blame your representative or agent for inaccurately filing or forgetting to update your whereabouts. If you are included in a RTP, you must provide your whereabouts every three months, so that you can be located for testing.
Additionally, the AIU makes the requirements abundantly clear on its website what the athlete’s responsibilities are.
Conflicting information
“You are directly responsible for constantly updating or completing your whereabouts information.”
She defiantly continues, “This situation has exposed the corruption and negligence within the federation that is supposed to champion our rights as athletes. I refuse to remain silent while they misuse their power and undermine our careers.”
Failure to assist an athlete with self-reporting by a governing body of the sport (AFN) is not “corruption,” by definition. Additionally, because it is the athlete’s responsibility, the federation is not negligent. Should they care more? Perhaps, but it is not the Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s responsibility.
She continues to misinform her online supporters with the following, “No one should have to suffer the consequences of a broken system. Let’s unite to expose these injustices and fight for a fairer future in sports. Together, we can make a difference.”
Where was her energy when she was missing tests? The AFN sent 35 athletes to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Thirty-four of 35 did not seem to have an issue with self-reporting. One wonders, what education program she was enrolled in and how she nagivated the coursework, the NCAA competition and training.
Uko was missing from the Baylor University Bears team when they competed in the 2025 NCAA indoor and outdoor seasons. Something was clearly amiss.
She holds a personal best in the 400m at 51.24 from 2023. She has run 52.19 seconds indoors. The now 21-year-old is a three-time U20 world championships gold medallist.
