Nigerian sprinter Okagbare out of Olympics after testing positive for human growth hormone
Reuters | Posted: July 31, 2021 1:06 AM | Last Updated: July 31, 2021
32-year-old comfortably won her 100m heat with time of 11.05 seconds
Nigerian sprinter and 2008 Olympics long jump silver medallist 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.
The 32-year old, who has also won world championship medals in the 200-metre and the long jump and is competing in her fourth Olympics, had comfortably won her 100-metre heat on Friday with a time of 11.05 seconds, qualifying for Saturday's semifinal.
She was also due to compete in the 200, and the 4x100-metre relay.
"The athlete was notified of the adverse analytical finding and of her provisional suspension this morning in Tokyo," the AIU said.
The unit said she tested positive in an out-of-competition test on July 19 and was informed of her suspension on Saturday.
This is the latest blow for Nigeria's athletics team after 10 track-and-field athletes were ruled as ineligible for the Tokyo Games three days ago for failing to meet minimum testing requirements.
On the list of banned substances, human growth hormone reduces body fat, increases muscle mass and strength and helps in recovery, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Okagbare's silver medal from the Beijing Games was a result of her being upgraded in 2017 after the International Olympic Committee disqualified Russian athlete Tatyana Lebedeva due to a doping offence. She had originally finished third in that long jump competition.
WATCH | The 100-metre dash, explained: