Nigerian distinguished athlete, Blessing Okagbare, has been provisionally suspended for doping on Saturday.
The suspension comes ahead of her scheduled participation in the semi-finals of the women’s 100m this evening.
It was communicated in a press statement by the Athletics Integrity Unit, saying that the 32-year-old Nigerian athlete tested positive for a banned substance – human growth hormone.
The ant-doping body said Okagbare tested positive for the prohibited substance in an out-of-competition test on July 19 – four days before the Olympics opened.
The results of that test were only received by track and field’s anti-doping body late Friday after Okagbare, who won her heat in 11.05 seconds, qualified for the semifinals of the women’s 100m race
at the Olympics
With the suspension, Okagbare will no longer compete at the Tokyo Olympics.
The statement read, “The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria today with immediate effect after a sample collected from the sprinter tested positive for human Growth Hormone.
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“Growth Hormone is a non-specified substance on the 2021 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List and a provisional suspension is mandatory following an adverse analytical finding for such substance under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.
“The AIU collected the sample from Ms. Okagbare during an out-of-competition test on 19 July. The WADA-accredited laboratory that analysed the sample notified the AIU of the adverse analytical finding at mid-day Central European Time yesterday, Friday 30 July.
“The athlete was notified of the adverse analytical finding and of her provisional suspension this morning in Tokyo. She was scheduled to participate in the semi-finals of the women’s 100m this evening.
“The AIU will make no further comment on this matter at this time.”
Okagbare’s suspension means Nigeria continues her search of a medal in the competition. The sprinter was one of the country’s brightest chances of silverware.
Okagbare and Grace Nwokocha were expected to face daunting tasks of reaching the final of the women’s 100m at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Saturday.
Nwokocha finished third with a new personal best of 11.00secs behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who is aiming to become the first woman to win three Olympic 100m gold medals.
Okagbare was expected to run in her third semi-final since she made her debut in the event at the 2012 Olympics in London, has been drawn in lane five of the first semi-final heat against defending champion Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica.
Source: Punch