High jumper faces battle to compete
MIKE Edwards is in the athletes village preparing to represent Nigeria in the high jump next week.
The only problem is the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) says he is ineligible to wear the African nation’s colours because he turned out for the United Kingdom as a junior almost 10 years ago.
Mr Edwards, 28, said he was already in the country when told of the IAAF decision and the governing body was operating under a broken system.
“I’ve been training for this moment for almost half my life,” he said.
“At the athletes village you can see the posters all around saying things like ‘Share the dream’, ‘Make the opportunity’.
“So here I am, the first Nigerian high jumper in 50 years and there’s a major obstacle.
“My competitors are no longer my competition. My competition is the IAAF.”
Since taking to social media to publicise his battle, Mr Edwards has garnered support from other international athletes as well as thousands of comments of support.
The Commonwealth Games Federation said they were reviewing the latest advice from the IAAF. The high jump competition starts Monday, April 9.
With a Nigerian mother and Jamaican father, Mr Edwards said while he was born in the UK, Nigeria is in his blood, hence his reasoning to choose to represent the African nation.
“I hold a Nigerian passport and a British passport, and I have almost all my life,” he said.
“I want to represent a nation that’s embraced me.
“It shows that the nation of Nigeria and other African countries that there is hope, there is strength in athletics for Nigeria.
“This is the epitome of my career.
“It means everything to me. “They are trying to block me but as of now I have my athlete’s accreditation, I’m in the athlete’s village, I’ve been training – I’ve been doing what every other athlete has been doing,” he said.
“I’m going to turn up on the day and we’re going to see what happens.
“I’m not going to let them ruin this opportunity for me.”
A Commonwealth Games Federation spokesman said all competitors must comply with the rules of their respective international body.
“We can confirm that the Commonwealth Games Federation has just received an update from IAAF about eligibility which we are now reviewing with the relevant Commonwealth Games Association,” he said.