World Athletics warned British sprinter over religious headband.

Warning from WORLD ATHLETICS

According to The Sun: World Athletics issued a statement regarding British sprinter Jeremiah Azu following his participation in a religious scandal at the World Championships this week.

The 24-year-old Azu appeared in the semifinal of the men's 100 meters on Sunday with a headband that read '100% Jesus'.

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Jeremiah has a religious background - his father, Alex, is a pastor in Cardiff.

In response to Azu's actions, World Athletics emphasized that it prohibits any political, religious, or personal slogans.

“Since he can participate in the relay, we remind the team of our rules and potential consequences,” the statement published on Wednesday said.

Azu plans to compete in the men's 4x100m relay in Tokyo, but UK Athletics has not yet confirmed whether he will be allowed to wear the headband again.

Azu, who is originally from Rotterdam, mentioned:

“When I am on the starting line, I feel like I am competing not just for myself, but for a higher power.”

In the semifinal, he finished fourth, running a time of 10.05 seconds and did not qualify further.

Similar cases in sports

Azu is not the only athlete drawing attention to this issue. Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi also wore a headband with the message 'I love Jesus' during one of the matches last season.

“It was a simple message about truth, love, and inclusion,” Guéhi noted.

The same '100% Jesus' headband was worn by Brazilian star Neymar, who wore it during the celebration of the gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

It is known that many athletes have faced criticism for using similar symbols, as mentioned by the president of the International Olympic Committee, emphasizing adherence to the rules regarding the demonstration of religious and political messages.

It remains unclear whether further actions will be taken regarding Azu, who grew up in the Netherlands with a father from Ghana and moved to Wales at the age of three.

Alex stayed in Japan during the World Championships, supporting his son.

Jeremiah previously commented:

“I have observed all aspects of the church. His determination inspired me to move forward.”

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This situation draws attention to the complex issues of transforming sport into a platform for expressing religious or political beliefs. As demonstrated by Azu and Guéhi's cases, the line between personal beliefs and team dynamics can become a topic of discussion. By taking such measures, World Athletics seeks to maintain neutrality in competition and avoid controversies.