By Alpha Abu
The fallout from Frederick Harris’ disqualification from the judo competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games rumbles on with accusations being traded along the corridors of the country’s athletics administration. Harris went to the games only to be told that he was heavier than the required 81 Kg, thus he was out rightly stopped from taking part in the competition. It was such an embarrassment to the country that many people are now calling for a thorough probe into the disgrace and for people be made to take responsibility for what happened in Tokyo.
On CTN radio it was clear from the statements of some individuals that Harris went to the games as ignorant as the officials at the National Olympic Committee (NOC) were. The coach of Martial Arts, Wallace Simis laid the blame squarely on NOC’s Chef de Mission, Unisa Deen Kargbo whom he claimed registered Harris and sent the wrong information overseas, without asking the player his weight class or getting his actual weight.
Simis also stated that Harris had previously fought at an international competition on the 91kg category. He went to the 2021 games, as Simis explained, weighing 90.5kg and being told of the 81kg requirement he vainly tried to drop pounds, which somehow sounded silly considering the few days left for such a huge chunk to be shed. It was mission impossible!
Kargbo in his reaction was somehow vague on what really transpired but said the matter will be investigated upon their return to Freetown. Government provided the necessary financial support to the NOC but sadly they overlooked such an all important aspect involving a member of their own contingent, which was clearly ineptitude.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (29/07/21)
