Tokyo Olympics: Nigerian’s Blessing Okagbare is provisionally suspended

Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare is provisionally suspended after testing positive for human growth hormone ahead of women’s 100m semi-final against Dina Asher-Smith 

Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare on Saturday was provisionally suspended after testing positive for human growth hormone before the Tokyo Olympics, the Athletics Integrity Unit said in a statement.

Okagbare, competing in her fourth Olympics and having won silver in the long jump at the Beijing 2008 Games, had competed in the 100m heats on Friday and was due to run in Saturday’s semi-final against Team GB‘s Dina Asher-Smith

In a statement, the AIU said: ‘The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria today with immediate effect after a sample collected from the sprinter tested positive for human Growth Hormone. 

Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare on Saturday was provisionally suspended after testing positive for human growth hormone

‘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.’

More to follow. 

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