Nigerian top sprinter, Blessing Okagbare has been suspended for testing positive for human growth hormone substance, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said. The anti-doping body disclosed this in a statement, saying the 32-year old Nigerian athlete tested positive for a prohibited substance in an out-of-competition test, days before the Olympics commenced.
“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.
“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.”
Okagbare’s suspension came on the day she was scheduled to race against Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith in the 100m Semi-final in Tokyo.
The Nigerian sprinter had finished first on Friday beating Britain’s Asha Philip and Bahamas’ Tynia Gaither, putting her in the semi-final.