Sports

Doping: AIU extends Blessing Okagbare’s ban to 11yrs

June 28, 2022

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Sequel to the 10-year ban handed renowned Nigerian sprinter, Blessing Okagbare, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has extended the ban by an additional one-year after she committed additional anti-doping rule violations.

The AIU in a statement on Monday night, June 27, said Okagbare specifically evaded sample collection, and tampered or attempted tampering with the doping control process.

Neptune Prime reports in February 2022, a 10-year-ban was handed to Okagbare by the body after she was found guilty of doping.

The ban, has however, been extended by one year (now 11 years in total).

Okagbare was suspended on July 31, 2021 from the semi finals of the women’s 100m at the last Olympic Games in Tokyo.

AIU announced that the double Commonwealth Games sprint winner in Glasgow had tested positive for human growth hormones.

Further investigation into the case by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed that Okagbare was involved in an orchestrated doping plot involving a US-based “naturopathic” therapist Eric Lira.

“On the basis that the Athlete is deemed to have admitted the anti-doping rule violations under Rule 2.3 ADR and Rule 2.5 ADR and accepted the consequences set out in the Second Charge, the AIU confirms by this decision the following consequences for the anti-doping rule violations: an increase of one (1) year to the period of Ineligibility of five (5) years already imposed upon the Athlete by the Tribunal in the Decision in accordance with Rule 10.4 ADR.

“Disqualification of the Athlete’s results since 13 June 2021,with all resulting consequences, including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points prizes and appearance money; and 40.3. disqualification of the results of any relay team in which the Athlete competed since 13 June 2021 in accordance with Rule 11.3.1ADR,” the statement reads in part.

See below AIU statement: