Sports

Tunisian football federation president arrested over corruption charge

Published

7 months ago

October 26, 2023

The President of the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF), Wadie Jary, has been arrested over alleged corrupt practices, the Ministry of Youth and Sports announced on Thursday.

Jary was arrested following a judicial complaint lodged by the ministry concerning the illegality of a contract concluded between the Federation and a technical director, ministry spokesman, Chokri Hamda told journalists at a press conference.

According to Hamda, Jary’s arrest is in connection with a case of “financial corruption within the Federation”.

Jary is also linked to several investigations of match-fixing, money laundering, embezzlement, and corruption, Hamda said.

Though Jary has always refuted the accusations, sports media in the country has often reported deep disagreements between him and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Kamel Deguiche.

In 2020, a heated dispute had broken out between Jary, a former national team player and Taoufik Mkacher, president of the Croissant Sportif de Chebba (CS Chebba) club after the FTF suspended the club, demanding payment of fines and the submission of administrative documents.

The decision was seen by the club as a punitive action for refusing to “play ball” with Jary.

Mkacher and the club’s general secretary were later banned from holding office for two years by the FTF following a Facebook post in which the president of CS, Chebba denounced the FTF president’s “authoritarian” management and lack of transparency, and called for an audit of its finances.

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Sports

Italian couple name new born baby after Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

An Italian couple have reportedly named their new born baby after Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, after he scored a spectacular goal against Olympic Marseille of France in the Europa League semifinal second leg match to take Atalanta to the final.

The Nigerian striker opened the scoring for Atalanta before Ruggeri and Toure sealed the win in their second-leg semi-final tie to set up a mouth-watering final tie with Victor Boniface’s Leverkusen.

According to reports from EuroFoot on X, Ademola’s performance was recognised by the couple who live in Palosco, a district in Bergamo where the Italian club is based.

“Somebody named their child after Ademola Lookman following his goal which helped send the Italian club to the Europa League final!” EuroFoot said in the post.

The post added that Lookman’s contribution to Atalanta’s advancement to the Europa League final caught the attention of the adoring Italian couple who decided to name their child after him.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian international was on Friday, named the Europa League Player of the Week following his outstanding performance in Atalanta’s 4-1 aggregate victory over Marseille in the semifinal.

According to UEFA’s official website, Lookman’s performance also included three attempts, further highlighting his influential role in Atalanta’s dominant display

Sports

AIU suspends Kenyan marathoner Josephine Chepkoech over alleged use of prohibited substances

Published

4 days ago

May 9, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Kenyan half distance runner, Josephine Chepkoech, over alleged use of prohibited substances during the Barcelona Half Marathon held on February 17, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain.

The AIU, in a statement on Thursday, said Chepkoech was suspended following allegations of doping involving the prohibited substance, testosterone.

In the statement, the AIU said Chepkoech had been served with a Notice of Allegation for violating Article 2.1 and Article 2.2 of its anti-doping regulations.

“The AIU has provisionally suspended Josephine Chepkoech (Kenya) for Presence (Testosterone Metabolites)/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Testosterone),” the AIU stated.

Chepkoech ran a personal best marathon time of 2:22:38 in February at the Seville Marathon, but with the suspension, the record is not likely to stand.

The AIU said the move was part of its crackdown on prohibited substances in athletics which has seen a rising number of Kenyan athletes penalized.

The 35-year-old had made her marathon debut in 2018 at the Nairobi Marathon, dominating the women’s race with a winning time of 2:33:11.

Her provisional suspension means she cannot participate in any competition until a final decision is reached which could result in an acquittal or a formal ban.

She faces a two-year ban pending a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appeal.