Nigerian top sprinter, Blessing Okagbare has Friday been slammed with a 10-year ban for doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced. Okagbare was suspended from the Tokyo Olympics last year on the eve of the women's 100m semi-finals after testing positive for human growth hormone (Hgh) at an out-of-competition drug test in Slovakia in July 2021. “The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years,” AIU said in a statement.
According to the AIU, the ban takes effect from July 31, 2021.
However, the 33-year old sprinter has 30 days to appeal the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
The AIU statement reads in part: “For the reasons set out, The Tribunal:
“Finds the ADRVs contrary to Rules 2.1 and 2.2 ADR proved;
“Imposes a period of Ineligibility of five years concurrently on each of the Rule 2.1 and Rule 2.2 ADRVs;
“Finds that the Athlete failed to comply with the Demand and cooperate with the AIU investigation in breach of Rules 5.7.3 and 5.7.7 ADRV and imposes a consecutive period of Ineligibility of five years; and
“Therefore, imposes a total period of Ineligibility of ten years which commences on 31 July 2021.
“The Tribunal also orders that the Athlete’s results from and including 20 June 2021 are disqualified with all resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, titles, ranking points, and prize and appearance money.
“There is no order for costs.”
