The National Ministry of Youth and Sports has expressed its displeasure of South Sudan’s athletic federation decision to stop Guor Marial from representing South Sudan at Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Two weeks ago, Marial was awarded a scholarship by the IOC to help him prepare for the Rio Olympics. South Sudan’s Athletic Federation demanded that  Marial handover the scholarship to them, because they say, the federation has a policy of putting athletes together for trainings and to compete under one umbrella and administration rather than operating in separate entities.

However, the marathoner argued, saying the scholarship was awarded solely to him and not to federation nor other athletes.

In response, the ministry says the decision made by the federation spoils the country’s image abroad.

The Director General of Youth and Sports, at the National Ministry of Youth and Sports, Edward Settimo says  that his ministry will hold a meeting with the National federation of athletics to solve the problem.

Settimo says the federation made a hasty decision without consulting them.

He says the decision affects the image of the country in general, especially as the country seeks to create a National Olympic Committee to join the International Olympic Committee.

He added that the International Olympic Committee may suspend the grant provided to the player Gour  Marial.