By Aderonke Ojo
The Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) has dismissed allegations by Nigerian cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye that she was abandoned by the federation and the National Sports Commission (NSC).
The Secretary-General of the federation, Joel Akinluwa, clarified the issue during a news conference at the VIP Lounge of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
The federation’s Media Officer, Patrick Omorodion, read the official statement to journalists, while CFN President Giadomenico Massari, Technical Director Bashir Mohammed and other board members joined the briefing virtually.
According to the federation, the briefing was convened to address what it described as falsehoods and misinformation arising from a recent interview granted by the cyclist.
It said the aim of the news conference was not to engage in controversy with the athlete but to clarify issues and set the record straight regarding the federation’s support.
The federation stated that it had invested heavily in the development of 26-year-old Ukpeseraye, especially in preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
It added that much of the support was facilitated through the personal commitment and financial contributions of CFN President Massari.
According to the statement, after qualifying for the road race event, the cyclist was offered a training scholarship in Switzerland to improve her technical skills and competitive performance.
The federation also said she was among female cyclists sponsored to participate in international competitions in Italy as part of efforts to broaden exposure.
It noted that the athlete was sponsored to several international competitions, including African and World Road and Track Championships as well as UCI Nations Cups.
“These competitions were hosted in countries including Eritrea, Colombia, Egypt, France, Scotland and Morocco.”
The federation said that in 2023, Massari also facilitated the cyclist’s placement with a European cycling club and covered the cost of her visa to Spain.
It said the arrangement was aimed at giving the athlete additional international exposure and professional development opportunities within the European cycling circuit.
According to the federation, the total investment made in developing Ukpeseraye and other Nigerian cyclists exceeded N200 million.
The federation also highlighted its efforts to develop cycling infrastructure, including the revival and certification of the velodrome at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
It said the project was completed with support from the Confederation of African Cycling (CAC) and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
The federation noted that Nigeria successfully hosted the African Track Championships in Abuja in 2019 and 2022, creating opportunities for local cyclists to compete.
According to the statement, hosting the championships allowed Nigerian athletes to gain valuable experience while competing at home against top cyclists across the continent.
It added that the CFN president recently procured two tandem bicycles for the para-cycling team to strengthen the country’s para-sports programme.
Other equipment provided included about 50 track bicycles, more than 12 training rollers, as well as generators and office equipment to improve operations.
Responding to claims that the cyclist lacked support before the 2024 Summer Olympics, the federation said she received about N2.2 million as training camp allowance.
“She also received about N6.2 million as Olympic Games allowance from relevant sports authorities to support her preparations.
“Although the Nigeria Olympic Committee approved a 5,000-dollar training grant for the athlete, the CFN president personally paid 5,000 euros into her account.
“She claimed that she missed the Zurich World Road Championship due to lack of support, meanwhile she did not qualify for the competition based on rankings by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).”
It explained that the ranking for Women Elite Road cyclists as of Aug. 20, 2024 did not place her among those eligible for the championship.
In spite of this, the federation said Massari wrote to the UCI president on Aug. 30, 2024 requesting special consideration for her participation, however, no response was received.
It added that the athlete was later advised to prepare to defend her African title at the continental championships in Kenya.
However, the federation said the cyclist declined the invitation to participate in the competition.
The CFN also dismissed claims that she was sidelined for refusing to apologise to the federation over undisclosed issues.
“She was invited to compete in the Tour du Benin but did not participate in the event.
“In spite of the disagreements, the athlete later led Nigeria’s team to the CAC Track and Para-Track Championships held in Cairo, Egypt in 2025.
“Ukpeseraye has benefited more than any other cyclist from the federation’s programmes due to her talent and opportunities provided by the CFN and the NSC’’.
The federation maintained that under the leadership of Massari it had continued to promote cycling development across Nigeria.
It added that special attention had been given to supporting female cyclists who had recorded successes in various competitions across the African continent.
Earlier, Ukpeseraye, Nigeria’s first female Olympic cyclist, announced her retirement from professional cycling, ending a career that took her from local roads in Delta State to major international competitions.
In an interview with journalists, the cyclist said her decision to retire was due to inadequate funding and lack of support from the CFN. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
