July 28, 2021
Sierra Leone outing at the Olympic Games started with a disappointment as the Chef de Mission Unisa Deen Kargbo revealed that the Judo athlete, Frederick Harris was disqualified from competing in the 81kg event.
He affirmed that the athlete weighs 84Kg which is 4Kg above his fighting weight. The National Olympic Committee (NOC) is disappointed at this development and vehemently condemns the athlete and the Judo Federation for failing to monitor his weight. Let it be known that Frederick Harris was issued a Wild Card Qualification by the International Judo Federation as best Looser in the African Championship held in Madagascar in 2020.
He furthered that the Judo Federation received the invitation and accepted it with a strong pledge that the athlete will compete. The NOC then prepared the accreditation and did the necessary homework for the athlete to compete.
It’s unfortunate concerning the investment the NOC and the government of Sierra Leone has done towards the athletes.
However, the issue has already been presented to the Minister of Sports and the NSA Executive Director in Japan. An investigation will be carried out for possible sanctions against the athlete and maybe Judo Association as a Federation.
Meanwhile, the NOC has informed NSA that the athlete will be removed from the Games Village and will return home earlier than scheduled. The process is now on.
In another development the female Swimmer Tity Dumbuya tested Positive for Covid 19 in Ghana on her way to Japan. She was held at the Ghana airport for a second test which fortunately turned out to be Negative. She is now on her way to Japan. She has been scheduled to traverse through Ethiopia then Korea before she arrives in Japan. According to flight schedule she will arrive in time to compete.