On Wednesday, social media went up in a frenzy after a seemingly inexperienced Somali runner skipped the finish line in last place at an international race.

PHOTO | COURTESY Nasro Abukar Ali 

Nasro Abukar Ali was filmed racing in the third heat of the first round of the women's 100-meter race at the International University Sports Federation's (FISU) Summer World University Games in China.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports should step down. It's disheartening to witness such an incompetent government. How could they select an untrained girl to represent Somalia in running? It's truly shocking and reflects poorly on our country internationally. pic.twitter.com/vMkBUA5JSL

Did you read this?

  1. Somalia Sentences Six Moroccans To Death Over IS Links
  2. Somalia Suspend Athletics Chair After Runner Takes 21 Seconds To Finish 100m


Ali staggers out of the blocks as the other runners sprint ahead and drift well behind the pack before jogging toward the finish line and finishing with a bit of skip.

She finished in 21.81 seconds, more than 8 seconds slower than the next racer and more than 10 seconds behind the winner.

PHOTO | COURTESY Nasro Abukar Ali 

The Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports suspended Khadija Aden Dahir, the chairperson of the Somali Athletics Federation, on Wednesday. In a letter issued to the Somali National Olympic Committee and tweeted by the ministry, it accused Dahir of "acts of abuse of power, nepotism, and defaming the name of the nation in international arena."

Somali Youth and Sports Minister Mohamed Barre Mohamud stated that Ali was neither a "sportsperson nor a runner." According to Forbes, in a Facebook video, Mohamud had already "apologized" for the event. "What happened today was not representative of the Somali people," he told Forbes in Somali. The Association of Somalia Universities declared it had not sent any runners to the event.

PHOTO | COURTESY Nasro Abukar Ali 

The Ministry of Youth and Sports stated in the letter on Wednesday that an investigation discovered no "registered Somali University Sports Association," but did not elaborate on the association or its role in the competition.

According to the letter, the ministry plans to "pursue legal action against both the Chairman of the Athletics Federation of Somalia and individuals responsible for falsification of the Somali University Sports Association."