Judoka dares GOC officials
Ghanaian judoka, Emmanuel Nartey, has denied claims that he has been expelled from the Ghana camp at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
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Speaking to the GNA Sports, Nartey, who was on his way to Russia for the World championship, said he was not expelled as presented in a press statement by the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), but rather left to engage in pre-tournament preparations for the World Championships in Russia.
“It is not true I was expelled from camp. These officials are liars and incompetent. They should be ashamed of themselves”, he stated.
He, however, indicated that there was an attempt to expel him from camp on Sunday after he questioned the mode of payment of allowances for athletes, which he said was in a hand written form, instead of being printed.
“I didn't engage in any conversation with the GOC or the Minister of Youth and Sports, neither did I use any offensive language. The money issue was a matter handled by my president.
“The press statement was false. It was vendetta and a defeat for the failure to eject me from the camp. I left the camp because I was on another duty for Ghana judo”, he stated.
It would be recalled that a statement released earlier by the Public Relations outfit of the GOC had said Nartey’s accreditation for the Commonwealth Games was withdrawn after he showed gross disrespect to Ghanaian officials when he was paid his allowances.
According to that statement, Nartey had reacted disrespectfully when GOC officials asked him to channel a request for the reimbursement of expenses through the Judo Federation officials, with the appropriate supporting documents.
It said the Ghanaian in an outburst, had cast aspersions on GOC officials calling the officials derogatory names while suggesting the amount to be paid him was very little compared to expenses that other athletes had received.
It added that Nartey had failed to apologise to the Deputy Minister and GOC officials for his "insulting behaviour" despite pleas from his colleague judokas and coaches to withdraw his earlier statements.
