Popular Nigerian Sprinter, Blessing Okagbare, has reacted to her 10 years ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit, AIU for doping violations.
DAILY GIST reported that the 33-year-old was handed 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.
According to AIU statement on Friday, Okagbare was banned for violating anti doping rules and drug related offences during last year’s Tokyo Olympics.
However reacting, She said her lawyers are currently studying it for the next line of action.
In her post on Twitter, she said “My attention has been drawn to the statement issued by the AIU regarding its disciplinary panel decision.
“My lawyers are currently studying it for our next line of action which we will inform you soon.”
Okagbare, who has an Olympic silver medal in the long jump from the 2008 Beijing Games, was provisionally suspended before the 100 metres semi-finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics last year.
The AIU statement explained that the sole arbitrator adjudicating the case concluded that Okagbare’s “use of multiple prohibited substances” was “part of an organised doping regimen in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympic Games.”
Okagbare was a medal contender for the women’s 100m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after an impressive run of form.
She ran a wind-assisted 10.63 seconds at the Nigerian trials in June, before winning her heat in Tokyo in 11.05.
Okagbare then “tested positive for human growth hormone” on 19 July, ruling her out of the semi-finals.
An Olympic silver medalist in the long jump in Beijing 2008 and World Championship silver medalist at Moscow 2013, she also holds the Commonwealth Games record of 10.85 in the women’s 100m from Glasgow 2014.
