3-‘ Aug 2023
Somalia’s athletics boss has been suspended after an untrained runner went viral for taking nearly 22 seconds to complete the 100-metre sprint at an international competition.
Nasra Abukar Ali, 20, came dead last at the World University Games in Chengdu, China on Tuesday, taking almost twice as long to finish as the winner, Brazil’s Gabriela Mourão
In a video that went viral online, Nasra Abukar falls so far behind the pack that she is out frame for most of the race and finishes in a skip across the finish line.
Nasra Abukar’s performance prompted ridicule and disbelief online, with some social media users holding it up as an example of the corruption and incompetence of the Somali government.
Her time of 21.81 seconds – more than 10 seconds behind the winning time of 11.58 seconds – has been widely described in international media as the “slowest-ever” time in the history of the 100m
Sports Minister Mohamed Barre Mohamud said on Wednesday that inquiries with the National Olympic Committees revealed that Ali had no background in running or any other sport
Mohamud said he had suspended Somali Athletics Federation Chairwomen Khadijo Aden Dahir for “abuse of power, nepotism, and defaming the name of the nation”, and would take legal action over the incident
Mohamud also said there was no registered Somali University Sports Association without elaborating on the group’s connection to the competition.
The Association of Somalia Universities said in an earlier statement that it had not sent runners to the competition.
Minister of Youth and Sports Mohamed Barre Mohamud earlier apologised over the incident and said his ministry was not aware Ali had been selected to compete at the games
The incident is not the first time Somalia has sparked controversy with its choice of athletes at international athletics events.
In 2016, Maryan Nuh Muse ran a sluggish time of 1.10.14 in the 400m at the Rio Olympics. The average time for the event is about 48 seconds.
However, many praised the runner for seeking to take part in the race and for defying the tough conditions faced by Somali women seeking to take part in high-level sport.
At the 2012 Olympics in London, Zamzam Mohamed Farah clocked a time of 1:20:48 – some 30 seconds behind the winner.
The athlete was reportedly subjected to death threats throughout the games from some in Somalia who believed women should not participate in sport
