Credit: Wiki Commons
British sprinter Jeremiah Azu is being criticised for wearing a headband with the inscription ‘100% Jesus’ at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Azu, who was born to Ghanaian parents, is a devout Christian and has been known to be vocal about his faith.
World Athletics, however, frowns on any form of religious slogans on the bodies of athletes. The body is believed to be applying pressure on Azu to not wear it again when he competes in the sprint relay this Saturday.
Azu, whose father is a preacher, was the first Welsh athlete to run sub-10 seconds for the 100m.
He believes his achievements are all due to divine empowerment. The athlete once told newsmen that once on the track, he felt like he was not doing it on his own, and that he believed that there was a power behind him.
Azu said whichever way things went, he was okay with it because he knew he was doing God’s work.
“For me, I want to spread the gospel. The faster I run, the more people I can reach,’ he said.
World Athletics regulations banned political and religious statements in the sporting arena.
They have issued a statement acknowledging that they noticed what Azu did on the track.
The organisation said it would remind the team ahead of any competition of its regulations and of the consequences for flouting them.
It would be recalled that Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi also got into controversy after writing ‘I love Jesus’ on his armband last season.
The rainbow armbands were introduced as part of the Premier League’s LGBTQ+ inclusion initiative.
Guehi simply wrote his message on his own armband, but he was promptly reminded by the Football Association that religious messaging was not allowed on kits.
During his next game, Guehi wore an armband with ‘Jesus loves you’ inscribed on it.
He was not sanctioned by the FA.
