Blessing Okagbare, Nigeria’s 2008 long jump silver medalist, was banned for ten years by the Athletics Integrity Unit on Friday.
The 33-year-old was kicked out of the Tokyo Olympics before the women’s 100m semi-finals last year after testing positive for human growth hormone in an out-of-competition test on July 19 in Slovakia.
“The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of ten years,” the AIU said in a statement on Friday.
“For the reasons mentioned out, The Tribunal: “Finds the ADRVs contradictory to Rules 2.1 and 2.2 ADR proven,” according to a copy of the judgment acquired.
“Imposes a five-year period of ineligibility on each of the Rule 2.1 and Rule 2.2 ADRVs at the same time;
“Finds that the Athlete failed to comply with the Demand and cooperate with the AIU investigation in breach of Rules 5.7.3 and 5.7.7 ADRV and imposes a consecutive period of Ineligibility of five years; and
“Therefore, imposes a total period of Ineligibility of ten years which commences on 31 July 2021.
The 33-year-old was kicked out of the Tokyo Olympics before the women’s 100m semi-finals last year after testing positive for human growth hormone in an out-of-competition test on July 19 in Slovakia.
“The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of ten years,” the AIU said in a statement on Friday.
“For the reasons mentioned out, The Tribunal: “Finds the ADRVs contradictory to Rules 2.1 and 2.2 ADR proven,” according to a copy of the judgment acquired.
“Imposes a five-year period of ineligibility on each of the Rule 2.1 and Rule 2.2 ADRVs at the same time;
“Finds that the Athlete failed to comply with the Demand and cooperate with the AIU investigation in breach of Rules 5.7.3 and 5.7.7 ADRV and imposes a consecutive period of Ineligibility of five years; and
“Therefore, imposes a total period of Ineligibility of ten years which commences on 31 July 2021.
“The Tribunal also orders that the Athlete’s results from and including 20 June 2021 are disqualified with all resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, titles, ranking points, and prize and appearance money.
“There is no order for costs.”
Okagbare had been facing three charges after testing positive for human growth hormone and EPO. In June, AIU revealed that Okagbare tested positive for blood-booster EPO in Nigeria, in addition to another failed test for human growth hormone in Slovakia in July, which was announced during the Olympics.
She was further charged with failing to cooperate with the investigation after she disobeyed an order to produce “documents, records and electronic storage devices” in relation to the other charges.
The former Commonwealth Games gold medallist who earlier denied all charges won her first-round heat of the women’s 100 metres in Tokyo before being forced to withdraw when her test results were announced.
“There is no order for costs.”
Okagbare had been facing three charges after testing positive for human growth hormone and EPO. In June, AIU revealed that Okagbare tested positive for blood-booster EPO in Nigeria, in addition to another failed test for human growth hormone in Slovakia in July, which was announced during the Olympics.
She was further charged with failing to cooperate with the investigation after she disobeyed an order to produce “documents, records and electronic storage devices” in relation to the other charges.
The former Commonwealth Games gold medallist who earlier denied all charges won her first-round heat of the women’s 100 metres in Tokyo before being forced to withdraw when her test results were announced.