On August 1, 2023, the starter pistol fired for the women’s 100-meter race at the XXXI FISU World University Games in Chengdu, China. As the pack of elite international athletes surged toward the finish line, one competitor dropped entirely out of the broadcast frame.
Somalian runner Nasra Ali Abukar crossed the finish line a full ten seconds behind the pack, logging a time of 21.81 seconds. The video of the unusually slow performance immediately accumulated nearly twenty million views on social media, prompting an international investigation that uncovered a complex web of family connections within Somalia’s athletic administration.
A Viral Finish at the World University Games
During the international broadcast of the 100-meter dash, Ali Abukar was left far behind her competitors almost immediately after the race began. While the leading runner completed the sprint in just 11.4 seconds, Ali Abukar took 21.81 seconds to finish the track.
To contextualize the gap in speed, the slowest recorded time for the women’s 100-meter event at the 2020 Olympics was 15.26 seconds. In the World Athletics scoring system, a time of 21.81 seconds yields exactly one point. Prior to departing for China, the university student gave a press statement expressing her happiness to represent Somalia as a runner.
The Family Ties Behind the Starting Line
The viral footage quickly shifted public attention from the race itself to the selection process that placed Ali Abukar on the track. Investigations revealed deep family ties within the Somali athletic delegation. Ali Abukar is the niece of Khadija Aden Dahir, who served as the chair of the Somali Athletics Federation.
Another aunt, Asha Aden Dahir, was operating as the deputy head of the delegation for the Chengdu games while also working as a doctor at Banadir Hospital. Furthermore, she was linked as the niece of Abdullahi Ahmed Tarabi, the president of the Somali Athletics Federation.
Conflicting Timelines and Global Backlash
The performance drew immediate backlash from prominent athletes. Elite long-distance runners of Somali descent, including Mo Farah and Abdi Nageeye, publicly condemned the decision to field an untrained university student. The controversy deepened when statements regarding her preparation clashed.
While athletics chair Khadija Aden Dahir claimed the student had undergone two years of rigorous training, Ali Abukar contradicted this by stating she had only trained for a single month. Following the race, Ali Abukar also stated she competed with a sprained leg.
Government Suspensions and Apologies
As the international outcry grew, the Somali Ministry of Sports intervened. Minister of Sports Mohamed Barre issued a formal apology, stating his department had no prior knowledge of her selection.
Following inquiries with the Somali Olympic Committee, Barre confirmed Ali Abukar had no background in competitive running. On August 2, 2023, the Olympic committee suspended Khadija Aden Dahir from her position, citing nepotism, abuse of power, and defaming the nation.