Anthony Iwuoma
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), has banned Nigerian sprinter, Blessing Okagbare, for 10 years for flouting anti-doping rules.
The AIU in a statement, on Friday, said Okagbare had been banned for five years because of the presence and use of multiple forbidden substances. She was also handed another five-year ban for refusing to cooperate with the AIU investigators.
Okagbare had also been suspended indefinitely during the Tokyo Olympics after AIU had adjudged her to have tested positive for human growth hormone in one of the out-of-competition drug examinations she did in Slovakia on July 19.
Consequently, she was given three separate anti-doping charges by the body.
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The US department of justice had also reportedly linked Okagbare with the case against Eric Lira, the doctor, who supplied performance-enhancing drugs to athletes that took part in the Tokyo Olympics.
The AIU statement read, “The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years, 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 sole arbitrator adjudicating the case concluded that the athlete’s use of multiple prohibited substances as part of an organised doping regimen in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympic Games was egregious conduct that amounted to aggravating circumstances under the Rules thereby warranting an additional period of ineligibility on top of the standard four-year sanction.
“The sole arbitrator also recognised the AIU’s right to carry out investigations, including the imaging of electronic devices, and to impose sanctions when an athlete refuses to co-operate with an investigation and thereby frustrates the AIU’s ability to fulfil its mandate to protect the integrity of the sport of athletics.
“In this instance, the sole arbitrator concluded that the athlete’s refusal to cooperate had denied the AIU the opportunity to discover evidence of possible further rule violations by her as well possible violations of the rules by others, for which he imposed an additional sanction of five years.”
Okagbare has 30 days within which to appeal against the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CaS).
