NFF president, Amaju Pinnick says sprinter has not been banned

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick has refute reports that Blessing Okagbare.

Pinnick is close to the sprinter having introduced her to former Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Udughan who supported her career financially.

Speaking in an interview with Hip TV, Pinnick dismissed the reports that Okagbare has been banned from representing Nigeria in next year's Summer Olympics.

The NSC and the AFN have reportedly banned the sprinter from games next year.

Read: Blessing Okagbare speaks on poor outing at the World Athletics Championship

The ban is as a result of the Delta State born runner's participation in the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday,  September 3 a few days after failing to represent Nigeria in the 200m event at the just concluded IAAF World Championship in Beijing, China.

After finishing last in the 100m final, Okagbare did not appear for the 200m event claiming to have a hamstring injury.

“A hamstring injury during warm up on Wednesday prevented Blessing Okagbare from participating in the heats of the 200m,” the statement from  AFN read.

Okagbare also informed the NSC and the AFN of her decision not to represent Nigeria in the ongoing All-Africa Games.

Read: Blessing Okagbare set new goals

Just three days after, the NSC and AFN say there were shocked to see Okagbare competing in the Zurich Diamond League.

Blessing Okagbare is yet to react to the ban.