A viral 100m race in China has caused a major scandal in Somalia’s athletics community. The viral video, which showed a Somali woman far behind the other runners, has led to the suspension of Khadijo Aden Dahir, the chairwoman of the Somali Athletics Federation. The incident has sparked outrage and accusations of nepotism, as the runner was not a trained athlete.
The Ministry’s reaction
The country’s Ministry of Youth and Sports stated that Dahir will face legal proceedings for “abuse of power, nepotism, and defaming the name of the nation.” The sports minister, Mohamed Barre Mohamud, has apologized, stating that they did not know how the 20-year-old woman was selected to compete in the 100-meter race. The FISU World University Games, where the event took place, is meant for student-athletes and is held every two years. This year, the games are being held in Chengdu, China.
The incident occurred during the 100m race at the World University Games in Chengdu, China, and quickly became an internet sensation. The video of the viral 100m race showed the Somali woman emphatically outclassed, falling far behind the other runners almost immediately after the race began. She finished about 10 seconds after the winner, completing the race in approximately 21 seconds.
Social media users were equally quick to criticize the Somali government for sending an untrained athlete to represent the country. Many expressed their disappointment and frustration with what they perceived as incompetence and nepotism in the selection process.
One social media post shared widely read, “It’s disheartening to witness such an incompetent government. How could they select an untrained girl to represent Somalia in running? It’s truly shocking and reflects poorly on our country internationally.”
Facing the consequences
The backlash undoubtedly prompted action from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The Ministry has consequently suspended Khadijo Aden Dahir, the chairwoman of the Somali Athletics Federation. She is accused of abusing her power and engaging in nepotism by sending an unqualified runner to the competition. The ministry thus announced that Dahir will face legal proceedings for her actions.
Additionally, the sports minister, Mohamed Barre Mohamud, publicly apologized for the incident. He admitted that they were unaware of how the 20-year-old woman was selected to compete in the 100-meter race. The Association of Somali Universities also released a statement denying any involvement in sending runners to the event.
The FISU World University Games is meant for student-athletes and is held every two years. However, this unfortunate incident has put a spotlight on the importance of fair and transparent athlete selection processes in representing nations on the international stage.
