Ghana says unaware of Margaret Simpson’s quit stance

The Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) claims it is unaware of a report citing heptathlete Margaret Simpson as hanging her spikes.

The decision of the 31-year old, comes on the heels of the impending nationality switch by compatriot and triple jumper Ignisious Gaisah to the Netherlands, but the GAA insists the stand by the former is news to them.

Bawa Fuseini, General Secretary of the GAA told GNA Sports on Tuesday that his outfit has yet to receive any official notification on the retirement of the ‘queen of African heptathlon.’

‘We have only heard that in the media. Nothing official from Simpson has been communicated to us’.

Simpson alluded the lack of welfare by the national federation towards athletes as one of the main reasons behind her decision to quit.

Unlike Gaisah, it is not readily known if the three-time African gold medalist harbours a similar intention to switch nationality.

In the past, Simpson claimed to have turned down overtures from officials of Mauritius, where she has been based since 2003.

Having won gold at the 2002, 2004 and 2010 African Athletics Championship in Tunis, Brazzaville and Nairobi, she has endured tough times in recent times which has affected her output.

She underwent surgery in 2011 before suffering a kidney related problem at the 2012 London Olympic Games, forcing her to sit out of the competition.

Simpson hit the headlines after winning gold at the 1999 African Junior Athletics Championship in Tunis, Tunisia.

Source: GNA