Sri Lankan sprinter Yupun Abeykoon has rejected claims that he demanded US$300,000 from the Government as a condition to continue representing Sri Lanka, saying the request was related to unpaid dues and long-standing commitments made by previous administrations.

Responding to recent remarks by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, Abeykoon said the amount was linked to payments due to him and his support team over several years, including outstanding payments dating back to 2021.

“We did not ask for US$300,000 as a condition for me to continue competing. The request was based on commitments made by previous ministers and discussions that had been ongoing for years. Everything has been documented,” he said.

Abeykoon explained that he had asked the Minister to help resolve an issue that had remained unsettled for more than four years.

“The amount relates to what has been due to me for more than four years. I simply asked the Minister if he could help resolve the matter,” he said.

The sprinter, who recently announced his retirement from athletics, said he was disappointed by the Minister’s public remarks, claiming they misrepresented his request.

“I believe the Minister’s statement created the false impression that ‘Yupun asked us for US$300,000 and we cannot give it’. That is not what happened,” he said.

“That statement drags me into politics and creates the impression that I competed for Sri Lanka only for money. I find that deeply disappointing.”

Abeykoon stressed that he has never been involved in politics and had always prioritised representing Sri Lanka, despite opportunities to compete for another country.

“I have never been involved in politics. I chose to represent Sri Lanka despite having opportunities to obtain Italian citizenship. I carried the Sri Lankan flag with pride,” he said.

“To portray an athlete who represented Sri Lanka in that manner is something I strongly reject.”

Abeykoon further said the US$300,000 request was not a new demand for funding but represented unpaid commitments, coaching costs and expenses incurred by him and his team while competing for Sri Lanka.

He also reiterated that he retired from athletics due to years of unresolved issues and frustration with the system, and not because the Government refused to provide the requested amount. (Newswire)

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