By Ben Efe, New Delhi
Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s has lost its credibility in the world of athletics, following its inability to pay the appearance fees of the international athletes that participated in the Abuja Grand prix in 2009.

A top official of the world athletics ruling body, IAAF disclosed in New Delh, India that the AFN’s failure to settle the athletes one year after, had done an  irreparable damage to Nigeria’s image.
“We discussed Nigeria several times in the IAAF executive meetings.

“It is such a shame that one year after, Nigeria is yet to pay the athletes that participated in the Abuja Grand prix. This is something that has tarnished the image of Nigeria and as far as the IAAF is concerned Nigeria has no credibility. No athlete would want to go there and compete,” said the official.

It was learnt that the IAAF will withhold all the grants due to the AFN, until all the owed athletes are paid their monies.
The AFN had organised the grand prix based on a promise by the National Sports Commission, to partly finance the project. But AFN president Solomon Ogba said in an interview that the funds have not been released to the Federation, by the NSC.