The Badminton World Federation has fined three top Ugandan players for failing to show up for various international tournaments.Simon Mugabi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Badminton Association told Xinhua on Monday that he received communication from the International body asking Uganda to pay the fines by August this year.

"It is unfortunate that some of the fines date back as 2014 and am wondering why the message is sent now," said Mugabi.

According to the communication which Xinhua saw, Margaret Nankabirwa is fined 500 US dollars for a no show at the 2014 Kenya International Championship.

Mugabi explained that Nankabirwa was held back in Kampala processing a visa to Britain and only arrived to feature in the other events, but missed the women's singles.

The other two players fined for a combined fee of 300 dollars is Edwin Ekiring and Shamim Bridget Bangi for skipping the 2015 France International Open last month. The two players communicated their withdrawal after the closing date.

Ekiring who is Africa's top men player is struggling to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil. He lost out in the first round of the US Open Championship last week, but will participate in the Lagos Challenge Open next month in Nigeria together with Bangi who is also Uganda's top female player.