In response to recent information circulating on social media, the Honorable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh has explained the concerns regarding the use of a borrowed bike by Nigerian cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye.
The Minister explained, “My attention has been called to a post on social media by Ese Ukpeseraye. After reading the post and some follow-up comments, I swung into action. Ese’s post seems to have been grossly misunderstood, perhaps also because it didn’t seem to give proper context to the matter in perspective. It is important I make some clarifications.”
Sen. Enoh clarified that Team Nigeria initially qualified for one road race in cycling and was well-prepared with appropriate training and competition equipment. However, two weeks before the team departed for the Olympics, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) informed the Cycling Federation of Nigeria that additional slots had been allocated due to the disqualification of another country. This unexpected opportunity required the use of different competition equipment.
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The new track race slot required specialized equipment approved specifically for the Olympic track event. Due to the time constraints and the months-long delivery process for such equipment, the Federation, in collaboration with Ese’s club in Europe and a German-owned company, secured a ‘Track Bike’ for the cyclist.
Sen. Enoh added, “Tomorrow, the 9th of August 2024, Ese will race in an individual sprint, the race she originally qualified for.”
The Minister’s statement aims to clarify the situation and address any misconceptions about Nigeria’s preparation and equipment use for the Olympic Games.
