Nigerian Sprinter Says Officials Forced Him to Run Injured in 400m Heats at World Championships

Nigerian sprinter Samuel Ogazi has disclosed that he was forced to run with an injury by the athletics officials at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.

Samuel Ogazi, a 400m specialist, clocked 45.97 seconds to finish fifth in his heat at the World Championships and will not proceed to the semifinal.

The NCAA 400m champion, after the race, revealed that he was willing to sit out after a strain on his hamstring on Wednesday, September 10.

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Just before competing at the World Championships, Samuel Ogazi had competed at the Gyulai István Memorial, a Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix and finished seventh.

Samuel Ogazi disclosed that during his warm-up, he was not comfortable running and even told the doctor, but they insisted that he should be on the starting line.

Ogazi added that he had informed the officials that there was nothing he could do if he competed, noting that he never runs while injured.

“I told team Nigeria officials that I wasn’t ready for the race since my hamstring was bothering me, but they still insisted that I should go run. On Monday, back at home, I had a very good practice and I felt ready, even on Tuesday,” Samuel Ogazi told reporters after the 400m heats.

“On Wednesday, I went for a shakeout, and I felt a tweak in my hamstring. And I don’t run with injuries. So, I told them I wasn’t ready for that and I wouldn’t do anything if I went and competed there, but they told me to come and give my all.

“I didn’t warm-up properly or do anything properly. I was willing to sit out, and during the warm-up, I spoke with the doctor.”

Samuel Ogazi, however, was not disappointed with his performance in the race, owing to the fact that he was injured. He added that winning the NCAA 400m title was his main goal and remains the highlight of his season.