Wayne Lumbasi
Sprinter Blessing Okagbare has been handed a 10-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) following her expulsion from last year’s Tokyo Olympics over doping violations.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics long jump silver medalist was handed 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.
After trial, it was concluded that Okagbare’s use of multiple prohibited substances as part of an organized doping regimen in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympic Games was an egregious conduct. It amounted to aggravating circumstances thereby warranting an additional period of ineligibility on top of the standard four-year sanction.
“A ban of 10 years is a strong message against intentional and coordinated attempts to cheat at the very highest level of our sport,” AIU head Brett Clothier said.
“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.”
Described as Nigeria’s Queen of Tracks, Okagbare has a long list of accomplishments including at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow where she won long jump silver and 100m bronze.
Besides being a multi African champion, Okagbare also won the 100m/200m double at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
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