The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has said that the athletes who would represent Nigeria at the 2014 Commonwealth Games would be selected at the 2014 All-Nigeria Championships in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Commonwealth Games are scheduled to hold in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23 to August 3.
The federation’s Secretary-General, Olumide Bamiduro, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday.
Bamiduro said the federation had already decided to follow the Commonwealth Games standard and only athletes that meet such would represent Nigeria.
He said: “The federation is not resting in terms of preparations for the Commonwealth Games and we have programmes on ground that are build up to the Games.
“Very soon, we will enter the local camp and from there, we will hold our Golden League in Benin next week and go for the Grand Prix in Warri.
“From the Grand Prix, we will go to Calabar for the All-Nigeria Championships where we will select our team that will represent Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games.
“A standard has been set and if you don’t meet this standard, you cannot represent Nigeria and that is what the federation has decided.”
The AFN scribe added that though some athletes might be given wild-cards to allow them to participate, everyone must fight for a shirt to represent the country.
Bamiduro added: “As an athlete, if you don’t meet the Commonwealth Games standard, that means you are not ready to represent the country.
“You must have to compete at the All-Nigeria Championships, which is fight for a shirt to represent Nigeria.
“But, if you do not show up for one reason or the other that you can explain to the federation, you can be given a wild card.
“Because you have a specific and cogent reason, the federation will consider your personal best and your season’s best before a wild card can be given to you.
“By and large, the decision of the federation is that wherever you are as an athlete, you must come and fight for a shirt.
“If that is not done, then there is no way you can represent the country.”
Athletics is one of the seven sports that Nigeria will feature in at the Games, which is the 20th edition.
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