Blessing Okagbare handed 10-year ban over doping scandal

Nigerian athlete Blessing Okagbare has been handed a 10-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) over a doping scandal that has been on since last year

The AIU said Okagbare would serve a five-year ban for the use of multiple prohibited substances and another five years for not co-operating with the investigation.

Ripples Nigeria had reported when the 33-year-old was suspended during the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics after failing a drug test.

“The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years,” read an AIU statement on Friday.

“Five years for the presence and use of multiple prohibited substances and five years for her refusal to co-operate with the AIU’s investigation into her case.”

Read Also: JUST IN…Nigeria’s Tokyo Olympic medal hopeful, Okagbare, suspended for doping

Recall that Okagbare won a silver medal in the long jump event at the 2008 Olympics, and has also won World Championship medals in the 200m race and long jump.

Before she was ruled out during the Tokyo Olympics, Okagbare was a medal contender for the women’s 100m as she had won her heat in 11.05 seconds.

But she was ruled out of the semi-finals after the AIU said she had tested positive for a human growth hormone following an out-of-competition test a few weeks before the competition.

Okagbare has continually denied any wrong doing.

The Nigerian lady has 30 days to appeal against AIU’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

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