Rio: Russia Escapes Blanket Doping Ban

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The International Olympic Committee’s decision not to ban Russia from the Rio Games over state-run doping left international sports leaders divided on Monday, less than two weeks before the opening ceremony.

Seeking to justify Sunday’s decision, IOC president Thomas Bach said an outright ban would trample the rights of clean Russian athletes who are hoping to compete at the upcoming Games.

Individual sports federations will have primary responsibility for determining every Russian athlete’s eligibility for Rio, the IOC executive said.

The World Anti-Doping Agency last week called for Russia to be banned after detailing how Russia’s sports ministry had directed a massive cheating programme with help from the FSB state intelligence agency.

United States anti-doping chief Travis Tygart — one of many who urged a total ban against Russia — accused the IOC of creating “a confusing mess” with its decision.

“In response to the most important moment for clean athletes and the integrity of the Olympic Games, the IOC has refused to take decisive leadership,” the USADA boss said in a statement.

Drug Free Sport New Zealand chief executive Graeme Steel also criticised the IOC’s decision to “pass the hot potato to international federations”.

“The fight against doping in sport requires strong international leadership, none more so in this case, where the integrity of an entire Olympic and Paralympic Games is at stake,” added Australian Sports Minister Sussan Ley.

WADA officials said they were “disappointed” with the IOC’s decision, which director general Olivier Niggli said would “inevitably lead to a lack of harmonisation, potential challenges and lesser protection for clean athletes”.

The cheating affected 30 sports, including at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and other major events, WADA said, in revelations that widened the worst drug scandal in Olympic history.

Credit: Guardian

Olu Falae Escapes Police Bullet On Journey To Ooni’s Palace

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Afenifere chieftain and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olu Falae, narrowly escaped bullets from policemen on Tuesday while traveling to Ile Ife, in Osun State to pay homage to the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The national leader of the Social Democratic Party, who narrated his ordeal to journalists in Ife, said he was traveling to join other Afenifere members for a meeting with the Ooni, when the incident occurred.

He said policemen who were escorting a bullion van shot at his car at Ile-Oluji junction.

“I was first kidnapped, now they want to kill me,” Mr. Falae said, as he expressed amazement at repeated attempts on his life.

“I was coming from Akure approaching Ilesa. I saw some vehicles ahead of me.

“There was a bullion van in front. The vehicles ahead of us were overtaking the bullion van and we too followed.

“I nearly passed them when I heard a shot and I heard a bang on my car. We stopped and we saw that they have fired at our car.

“They didn’t stop. We stopped at Erin-Ijesa and complained to the police at the check-point that we were fired at by some police following a bullion van at Ile-Oluji junction.

“I don’t know why I was kidnapped recently, why I was arrested in 1997 and locked up for two years.”

When contacted on telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer in Osun, Folashade Odoro, said the state command was yet to receive any report from Mr. Falae.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Drama As Ooni Escapes Assault At Obas Council Meeting

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) was almost assaulted on Thursday by suspected agents of some traditional rulers, but for the vigilance and agility of his own aides who whisked him out of a meeting of the Osun State traditional Rulers, in Osogbo, the state capital. The drama was witnessed at the monthly meeting of Osun State Council of Obas, which ended abruptly with some aides of the Ooni having their attires torn into shreds while protecting their principal.

Thursday’s crisis started when some aides of Ooni Ogunwusi reportedly brought into the auditorium where the meeting was to hold a new white chair and stood by it awaiting the arrival of their principal. Upon arrival at the venue, few minutes after 9:00 am, when Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran and other monachs had taken their seat, it was also gathered that Oba Aromolaran went to the raised platform where Ooni’s seat was placed and ordered the aide watching over it to leave. To the surprise of the monarchs already seated, the Ooni’s aides reportedly dismissed Oba Aromolaran’s order.

“There was a kind of struggle and we just saw that white cloth of the Emese (Ooni’s aide) was torn and the meeting just ended before it commenced at all”, a source told The Daily Times. By the times the Ooni was to come into the meeting, the aide watching over his chair was being compelled to obey the Owa of Obokun’s orders, and he was reportedly rushed out and guided by his messengers to prevent him from being attacked by opposition monarchs. When contacted, Moses Olafare, the media aide to Ooni of Ife, said that the Ooni’s permanent chairmanship of the council was not contestable since there is a law that backs it. “Ooni will not want to be drawn into what happened, Oba Ogunwusi remained the permanent chairman of Osun Obas’ council, according to the law.”

As part of fallout of the council’s meeting, members of the council were seen leaving the Government House, Okefia, in motorcade after reportedly meeting with Governor Rauf Aregbesola, where the matter was resolved. In what was believed as the final resolution of the matter, the Ooni, in company of most members of the Obas’ Council, later went to the Owa’s place in Ilesha, where they held a closed door meeting with him. Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Oba Aromolaran, said Ooni’s visit was a surprise and least expected one, saying “now that you have come to show hand of friendship, I will now join your unity train to unify the Yoruba race.”

Responding, Ooni of Ife posited that the stool of Owa is among the prominent ones in Yorubaland, adding that “it is in my own interest and that of the larger Yoruba people to relate very well with Owa. I just spent about three months on the throne now, while you, Owa has spent about 45 years.” “It is my responsibility to visit you first because you have been on the throne for long. It has been said by the God almighty that I should come and liberate Yorubaland and to ensure peace and unity. I am not engaging in any supremacy of leadership tussle with anybody.”

Credit: DailyTimes

Sorry State Of Caged Animals In Jos Wild Life Park (PHOTOS)

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A facebook user shares photos of the sorry state of caged animals in the Jos Wild Life Park. Responding to the report of the missing Lion that escaped confinement earlier today, the facebook user alleged that carnivorous animals are given Eba to eat, adding that it is the reason why the caged lion escaped.

It is not certain whether the eba allegation is a joke or not, but the animals seen behind the cage do not look like lions. They look more like malnourished dogs.

See photos below:

Lion Escapes Unfenced Jos Zoo During Feeding Routine

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A tweep reports that a lion is on the loose in Jos. The tweep claims that the lion escaped from his confinement at the Jos Wild Life Park, in Jos South local government of Plateau State.

Mr John Doy, the Acting General Manager, Plateau Toursim Corporation, confirms the report saying the lion escaped “at about 8 a.m. while it was being fed”.

Doy said that the lion, which had been caged since 1972,“ slipped through the gate of the cage when it was opened for its routine feeding”.

“The animal is still within the vicinity of the Park but our fear is that the Park is not fenced.

“We are struggling to recapture it, but we want members of the public to be vigilant,” he said.

Breaking News: A lion just escape @ wild life park in JOS SOUTH LG,Plateau state…People are advised to be vigilant..Pls help Rt @Omojuwa

— Balogun Owolabi (@barrackowo) December 2, 2015

Ekweremadu Escapes Assassination Attempt, Suspected Foreign Mercenary Sighted- Aide

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, escaped suspected assassination attempt, Tuesday.

The attempt, according to Uche Anichukwu, the dep?uty senate president’s spokesperson, occurred at about 10:00am between Apo Flyover and Dantata Construction Company’s yard, close to the Old Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Headquarters junction on his way to work.

The suspected assassins who Mr. Anichukwu said operated in a tinted white-coloured Mercedez Benz AMG E63 without a plate number, were reportedly chauffeured by a long-bearded light skinned foreigner, apparently a mercenary.

The spokesperson continued,”The vehicle, which was positioned by the Apo Bridge, on noticing that the Deputy President of the Senate’s convoy took the right turn to join the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway instead, made a turn. The occupants attempted to attack the convoy, but were blocked. The driver violently broke into the convoy and they made several frantic attempts to attack the Senator’s official car.

”When charged at by the security operatives attached to the Deputy President of the Senate, the Benz driver made a U-turn, and partially smashed an oncoming vehicle on the opposite lane of the highway and escaped.

”The development has already been reported to the security agencies.”