The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has banned Nigeria’s sprinter and 2008 long jump silver medalist Blessing Okagbare from athletic competitions for 10 years.

The AIU made the announcement in a press release issued on its website on Friday.

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The 33-year-old was expelled last year from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics last just before the women’s 100m semi-finals after testing positive for human growth hormone at an out-of-competition test in Slovakia on July 19, 2021.

“The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years, 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.

“The sole arbitrator adjudicating the case concluded that the athlete’s use of multiple prohibited

substances as part of an organised doping regimen in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympic Games was

egregious conduct that amounted to aggravating circumstances under the Rules thereby warranting

an additional period of ineligibility on top of the standard four-year sanction.

“The sole arbitrator also recognised the AIU’s right to carry out investigations, including the imaging

of electronic devices, and to impose sanctions when an athlete refuses to co-operate with an

investigation and thereby frustrates the AIU’s ability to fulfil its mandate to protect the integrity of the sport of athletics.

“In this instance, the sole arbitrator concluded that the athlete’s refusal to cooperate had denied the AIU the opportunity to discover evidence of possible further rule violations by her as well possible violations of the rules by others, for which he imposed an additional sanction of five years.

“We welcome the decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal; a ban of 10-year is a strong message against intentional and co-ordinated attempts to cheat at the very highest level of our sport. This is an outcome that was driven by our intelligence-led target testing as well as our commitment to

investigate the circumstances behind a positive test,” said Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU.

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