The chairwoman of Somalia’s athletics federation has been suspended after a female sprinter took more than 21 seconds to run the 100 metres at the World University Games.

Nasra Abukar Ali lined up for Somalia in the women’s 100 metres at the student games in Chengu in China on Monday.

But as the field sprinted ahead of her, she was left to run in dead last – more than 10 seconds behind the race winner, who clocked 11.58 seconds.

In a clip that went viral on social media, the untrained 20-year-old was not even in the frame as the rest of the field crossed the line.

“How could they select an untrained girl to represent Somalia in running? It’s truly shocking and reflects poorly on our country internationally,” Somali commentator Elham Garaad wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Sports Minister Mohamed Barre Mohamud said an investigation was conducted with Somalia’s National Olympic Committee, which revealed Ali was neither a sports person nor a runner.

“Khadijo Aden Dahir, the chairwoman of the Somali Athletics Federation, has engaged in acts of abuse of power, nepotism, and defaming the name of the nation in [the] international arena,” the minister said in a statement.

It a separate statement, the ministry, alleged that Ali was a relative of Ms Dahir, and that was why she was given the chance to compete in China. Amid claims, Ali is her niece, it was found that Ms Dahir had previously shared a photo of the 20-year-old’s graduation on social media.

“Based on these findings, the chairman of the Somalia National Olympics committee should suspend Khadijo Aden,” Mr Mohamud’s statement said.

“Furthermore, the ministry … firmly declares its intention to pursue legal action against both the chairman of the Athletics Federation of Somalia and individuals responsible for the falsification of the Somali University Sports Association.”

Social media users piled on Ali for her performance.

“Immediately I saw the potbelly, I started laughing. This girl hasn’t walked fast in her life, talk more of run any kind of race,” commented one user.

“Wow. Somalia is known for marathon runners if I’m not wrong?” another said on X.

“She has never run a day in her life,” another said.

The ministry added the investigation also revealed there was no registered Somali University Sports Association.

-with AAP