By S. Siapha Mulbah
Stana Ramirez, the only Liberian female athlete selected among many to represent the country in the Taekwondo category of the ongoing All African Games in Ghana, missed out on the competition on controversies of weight and identity.
The passionate and energetic heroine was in tears when she received information that her weight and identity would prevent her from participating in the African Olympics last Sunday, a day to the kick-off of the Taekwondo event in Ghana.
According to sources, the organizers could not clearly explain the factors involved in the denial of participation of Ramirez, but disclosed to the Liberian technical team that due to weight complications and mixed identity, the female star could not appear on the African stage.
According to the organizing committee of the All-African Games, Stana Ramirez was registered for the 73-kilogram category of the Taekwondo women competition, but unfortunately, things did not happen as planned, on grounds that her weight increased.
Reports furthered that the coaches later managed to workout the weight of the athlete in less than 30 minutes to meet up with the exact 73kg weight to allow her participate.
After the workout, the female athlete could not hold her tears when the organizers later raised the alert of mixed identity after realizing that her regular weight was met.
The committee disclosed that her name was not found in the female category, though she was in the system as a registered athlete from Liberia.
The information angered the Liberia Taekwondo Federation president, Master Junior Pewee Russian, as he moved into different interactions to make the organizers to understand that the mistake was from of the committee, but they failed to find a solution.
The reports added that after series of discussions as a means of finding a solution to solve the matter, the organizers kindly asked Stana Ramirez to sign the commitment form that she will not compete in the competition, which she did.
Liberia was left with three certified male athletes to compete, namely, Mustapha Kromah, Enoch Gardia, and Janga V. Kamara.
