The Nigeria Weightlifting Federation has stripped off Anambra State of three gold medals won in the 77 weight kilogramme by its weightlifter, John Baptis, who was discovered to be a Cameroonian in the weightlifting event, which took place on Sunday at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Gym.
Baptis’ outstanding performance in the snatch, clean and jerk and total prompted other participating states to complain officially to the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation over the eligibility of Baptis, whose records in weightlifting was unknown to the NWF.
Following their quest to confirm the eligibility of Baptis, the NWF swung into action and set up a jury that now went into its archive to search for the records of Baptis and it was discovered that the mercenary was not on the radar of the NWF and neither has he never featured in any tournament organized by the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation.
Further investigation showed the athlete was a Cameroonian who had featured in the All African Games for Cameroon.
