The outstanding efficiency drew criticism — and raised questions on why the athlete, who didn’t give proof of any background in elite athletics, was representing Somalia within the first place. She doesn’t have an entry on the World Athletics database.
“It’s really surprising and displays poorly on our nation internationally,” one consumer wrote on Twitter, now referred to as X, calling for resignations on the Ministry of Youth and Sports activities. The sentiment was extensively shared.
On social media, customers alleged that Abukar was the niece of a Somali athletics official.
Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports activities suspended its chairwoman, Khadijo Aden Dahir, on Wednesday, alleging after a preliminary investigation that Abukar was chosen to race because of nepotism.
A press release from the ministry described Abukar as neither a “sports activities particular person nor a runner.”
Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports activities didn’t reply instantly to a request for remark.
Abukar will not be the primary Somali athlete within the highlight for a sluggish efficiency in elite working.
On the 2016 Olympics, runner Maryan Nuh Muse completed the 400-meter occasion far behind her opponents with a time that might not have certified her for some U.S. highschool state finals. She was hailed as an inspiration for overcoming struggle, violence and very tough coaching situations to compete.
Somalia has despatched runners to success on the world stage, together with Ali Idow Hassan, who competed within the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and positioned second in a 1,500-meter occasion at a world meet in Djibouti this yr.
correction
An earlier model of this text reported that runner Ali Idow Hassan got here in third in a race in Djibouti. He got here in second. This text has been corrected.
