Doping: Blessing Okagbare Banned For 10 Years

The Athletics Integrity Unit on Friday announced that 33-year-old Nigerian sprinter, Blessing Okagbare has been slammed with a 10 years ban for doping.

Nigeria’s 2008 long jump silver medalist was expelled from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics 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.

The Nigerian athlete was a medal contender for the women’s 100m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after an impressive run of form.

She ran a wind-assisted 10.63 seconds at the Nigerian trials in June, before winning her heat in Tokyo in 11.05.

Okagbare 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.’

The statement released by AIU reads, “The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years.”

End of career for Okagbare

“We welcome the decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal,” said Brett Clothier, Head of the IAU. A 10-year ban is a strong message against intentional and coordinated attempts to cheat at the highest level of our sport. It’s a result that was driven by our targeted intelligence-based testing as well as our commitment to investigating the circumstances of a positive test.”

Okagbare was part of a very high profile group based in Florida and coached by American Rana Reider, which notably includes American Trayvon Bromell and recent Canadian Olympic 200m champion Andre de Grasse.

The IAU says Okagbare has thirty days to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.