For violating various rules governing the Niger Delta Games, a swimmer representing Edo State was stripped of six gold medals yesterday.
The development came, just as Team Delta filed a protest seeking the disqualification of four other athletes being paraded by Edo State in the Games.

A statement by the Chairman, Media Committee of the Games, Harry Iwuala, said: “Breaking, an athlete representing Edo State who won six gold medals in swimming has been disqualified by the Technical Committee for flouting eligibility rules. Details later.

However, after about two hours later, Iwuala could not provide the details. When The Guardian called him, Iwuala said: “Should I give you information I don’t have?

Earlier, yesterday, Team Delta had written to the Technical Committee seeking the disqualification of five Edo swimmers, including Otunla Kolade, who won six gold medals in swimming (4x100m free style relay, 4x100m medley relay, 100m and 50m backstroke).

According to the protest by Delta State, some of the swimmers had won gold medals for Team Delta before they were lured by some ‘desperate’ Edo officials for the ongoing 2nd Niger Delta Games holding in Benin City.

Those listed in the protest letter are Eferuauoa Ebikelele Honour (m) born on March 10, 2006, Marry Owoupe Eniekedou (f), born on September 22, 2006, and Otunla Kolade Israel (m) born on October 23, 2006.

Team Delta also listed another athlete, Tissa Precious, a male swimmer competing in 4x100m Freestyle for Edo saying he violated section 2.4.1, as well as female swimmer, Joy Peremobiere, who they accused of violating section 2.4.1.

The letter addressed to the Technical Committee, Niger Delta Games, is seeking the immediate disqualification of the five swimmers and stripped of them of medals won for Edo State in the ongoing Niger Delta Games.

According to the letter, the athletes violated the competitions rule (2.1 and 2.4.1), which clearly state that the completion shall be for athletes under 20 years of age in year of competition (as long as they are born January 1, 2007 or after), and that competitors can only represent their state of origin (which evident can only be established in document from 2.4.0 but not limited to National Identification Number (NIN).