Nigerian sprinter Samuel Ogazi has accused his country’s athletics officials of pressuring him to compete with a hamstring injury, a decision he claims led to his early exit from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The 2025 NCAA 400m champion, who finished fifth in his heat, stated he told officials and the team doctor he wasn’t comfortable running.
Despite his concerns, they “still insisted that I should go run.”
Ogazi revealed he felt a “tweak” in his hamstring during a warm-up and had intended to sit out the race.
However, officials told him to “come and give my all.” The incident highlights ongoing concerns about athlete welfare within Nigerian sports, and officials have yet to respond to the allegations.
