Nigeria’s gold medalist, Blessing Okagbare has been banned for 10 years.
The 2008 long jump silver medalist Blessing Okagbare will no longer participate in athletic competitions for doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Friday.
The 33-year-old, who is also a sprinter, was expelled from the Tokyo Olympics last year before the women’s 100m semi-finals after testing positive for human growth hormone at an out-of-competition test in Slovakia on July 19.
“The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years,” read an AIU statement.”
According to Politics Nigeria, the Delta born sprinter entered hot water after she tested positive for human growth hormone before the Tokyo Olympics last year. She had competed in the 100m heats in Tokyo on July 31 and was due to run in the semi-final before getting hit with a suspension.
Reacting to the development, the head of the AIU, Brett Clothier expressed happiness at the decision saying; “We welcome the decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal; a ban of 10-years is a strong message against intentional and co-ordinated attempts to cheat at the very highest level of our sport.”
