The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has expressed shock over the provisional suspension of Team Nigeria’s top athlete and medal prospect, Blessing Okagbare, for a doping rule violation.
Blessing Okagbare who won her 100m heat with 11.05 seconds to reach the semifinal on Friday, was suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after a sample collected from the sprinter tested positive for human ‘Growth Hormone’.
Reacting to the news, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, said it received with great shock the press release by the Athletics Integrity Unit, suspending Blessing Okagbare for a doping rule violation.
The Federation, in a statement, says it is in the process of obtaining the relevant details of the announcement after which a full reaction will be issued.
The Report
According to The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the independent body created by the World Athletics that manages all integrity issues for the sport, Okagbare tested positive for Human Growth Hormone.
“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.” the AIU said in its statement.