Five track and field athletes were released on Thursday after being arrested at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti for allegedly training without authorization and declining to represent Ekiti State at the upcoming 2024 National Sports Festival in Ogun State.

The athletes, including medalist Niyi Ogunleye, were detained on Wednesday following a standoff with stadium security. Their arrest has sparked concerns about athletes’ rights, fair compensation, and the politics of state representation in Nigeria’s sporting system.

Ogunleye, who previously won a medal for Ekiti at the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival, told The PUNCH that the core issue stemmed from a lack of clarity around financial compensation for representing the state.

“At the last festival in Asaba, I represented Oyo State and earned N300,000. Meanwhile, my colleagues who competed for Ekiti were paid just N35,000,” he said. “We asked how much Ekiti was offering this time, but got no answer. So, we opted out of the trials and planned to represent another state.”

The athletes skipped the April 2 state trials and continued training at the stadium until they were barred from entering on Wednesday. According to Ogunleye, they were told their presence was no longer welcome since they weren’t representing Ekiti.

“We’ve been training there as indigenes and have brought the state honors in the past. But suddenly, we were locked out and later arrested,” he said.

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The Technical Adviser to the Governor on Sports Development, Dr. Olusola Osetoba, defended the action, claiming it was necessary to prevent chaos.

“They asked about payment, and I told them we wouldn’t commit to any figure upfront,” Osetoba said. “When they came to the stadium despite being told they wouldn’t be part of our contingent, it created unrest. Security was called in when they attempted to force entry.”

Osetoba further clarified that three athletes were released after showing remorse, while the remaining two were freed the following day.

The incident has reignited discussions around athlete welfare, particularly regarding compensation disparities between states during national sporting events. With the National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Abeokuta from May 16 to 30, the fate of these athletes—and whether they’ll be allowed to represent other states—remains uncertain.

Observers and sports advocates have called for greater transparency in athlete contracts and a more inclusive approach to managing homegrown talent.

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