Cycling Federation Denies Abandoning Ukpeseraye, Outlines ₦200m Investment in Athlete Development

Cycling Federation Denies Abandoning Ukpeseraye, Outlines ₦200m Investment in Athlete Development

By Niyi Busari 

The Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) has rejected claims by Nigerian cyclist Ese Lovina Ukpeseraye that she was abandoned by the federation and the National Sports Commission of Nigeria, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday at the VIP Lounge of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, CFN Secretary-General Joel Akinluwa dismissed the allegations, describing them as “falsehoods and misinformation.” The federation’s media officer, Patrick Omorodion, read an official statement on behalf of the leadership.

According to the federation, the briefing was convened to clarify issues raised in a recent interview in which Ukpeseraye accused the CFN and the National Sports Commission of neglect.

“The purpose of this press conference is not to engage in controversy with the athlete but to set the records straight,” the statement said.

Support for Olympic Preparation

The federation stated that it had invested heavily in the development of Ukpeseraye, particularly in preparation for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Much of the support, the CFN said, was facilitated through the personal commitment of its president, Giadomenico Massari.

After qualifying for the Olympic road race event, Ukpeseraye reportedly received a training scholarship in Switzerland aimed at improving her technical skills and competitiveness. She was also among Nigerian female cyclists sponsored to compete in international events in Italy.

The federation added that she participated in several major competitions with its support, including the African and World Road and Track Championships, as well as events in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Nations Cup series held in countries such as Eritrea, Colombia, Egypt, France, Scotland and Morocco.

In 2023, the CFN said Massari also helped secure Ukpeseraye a placement with a European cycling club and covered her visa expenses to Spain to further her international exposure.

₦200 Million Investment in Cycling

The federation revealed that more than ₦200 million has been invested in the development of Ukpeseraye and other Nigerian cyclists in recent years to enhance their competitiveness on the global stage.

CFN also highlighted broader initiatives aimed at developing cycling in Nigeria. These include the revival and certification of the velodrome at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium with support from the Confederation of African Cycling and the Union Cycliste Internationale.

Nigeria also hosted the African Track Championships in Abuja in 2019 and 2022, competitions the federation said were funded with significant support from Massari to provide local cyclists with international exposure.

Equipment and Athlete Support

The federation added that it recently acquired two tandem bicycles for the national para-cycling team and provided equipment including around 50 track bicycles, rollers, a generator, televisions, printers, laptops and other operational tools to improve training and administrative efficiency.

Addressing claims of insufficient support ahead of the Paris Olympics, the CFN stated that Ukpeseraye received approximately ₦2.2 million in training camp allowances and about ₦6.2 million in Olympic participation allowances.

The federation further disclosed that although the Nigeria Olympic Committee approved a $5,000 training grant, Massari personally transferred €5,000 to the cyclist to assist with her preparations.

World Championship Qualification Dispute

Regarding Ukpeseraye’s claim that she was denied support to compete at the World Road Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, the federation said she did not qualify for the event based on UCI rankings as of August 20, 2024, where she ranked behind a South African cyclist.

Despite this, CFN said its president wrote directly to the UCI president on August 30, 2024 requesting special consideration for her participation in the championship but received no response.

The federation added that she was subsequently invited to defend her African title at the African Championships in Kenya but declined the invitation.

Federation Rejects Claims of Retaliation

The CFN also dismissed claims that Ukpeseraye was sidelined for refusing to apologise to the federation, noting that she was invited to compete in the Tour du Benin but did not attend.

However, the federation pointed out that she later captained Nigeria’s team at the CAC Track and Para-Track Championships held in Cairo, Egypt in 2025.

The federation maintained that under Massari’s leadership it has made significant strides in developing cycling in Nigeria, particularly in supporting female cyclists who have recorded notable achievements across Africa.

CFN also called on the media to present its position accurately and emphasised that Ukpeseraye has benefitted substantially from the federation’s support throughout her career.