Nigerian athlete, first banned at Olympics for doping – Olympics – Sports

Nigerian runner Okagbare’s blessing, one of the theoretical “outsiders” of the 100m final taking place on Saturday, was Suspended due to doping After a positive control of growth hormone, the Athletics Safety Unit (AIU) indicated. Okagbare (32), the long jump runner-up at the 2008 Olympics, was controlled from competition on July 19. She is the first female athlete to test positive during the Olympic period of this Tokyo Games.

“The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has temporarily suspended Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria with immediate effect after testing positive for growth hormone. AIU took Okagbare’s sample for out-of-competition testing on July 19.” AIU wrote in a statement.

Asked by AFP, he said Body athletics for anti-doping He did not want to specify whether the test took place in Japan or another country. Technically, if the sample is taken by the AIU, it cannot be in an Olympic facility, as the responsibility lies with the ITA (International Control Agency).

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Blessing Okagbare was scheduled to participate this Saturday at 7:15 p.m. in Japan (5:15 a.m. in Colombia) in the 100-meter semi-final, with the final scheduled for 9:50 p.m. (7:50). AM in Colombia), after winning it. Friday series (11.05). The Nigerian is the seventh best player of the season in a straight line (10.89 on July 6). She is also the record holder in the 200m in Africa (22.04 in 2018).

On Thursday, Nigeria saw ten of its 23 players selected to play in the sport banned from the event because they did not comply with out-of-competition anti-doping standards. Nigeria, one of the sports that the AIU considers “high risk”, should be subject to additional obligations.

“The Nigerian sporting system is completely flawed and we athletes are always the side victims,” Okagbar lamented on Twitter.
The sprinter is part of a high-profile group based in Florida (USA) trained by American Rana Rider, which includes some of the favorites in the men’s 100m such as American Trayvon Bromell and Canadian Andre de Grasse.

France Press agency

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