Tokyo Olympics: Blessing Okagbare suspended after failing drug test
Nigerian athlete, Blessing Okagbare has been temporarily suspended after failing a drug test on Friday, July 30 at the current Tokyo Olympics.
The judgment was released by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), an independent organization formed by World Athletics to handle any integrity problems in the sport. Okagbare tested positive for Human Growth Hormone, according to the body.
The AIU said in its statement:
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.
