Shock waves spread across world athletics and Athletics Federation of Nigeria as news filthered in that Nigeria’s Track sensation Blessing has been sanctioned by the Athletics Parent body.
Nigerian track and field athlete Okagbare, who specialises in long jump and short sprints, is an Olympic and World Championship medallist, including silver in Beijing in 2008.
The 33-year-old also won her heat at the Tokyo Olympics in the women’s 100m, but a positive test for a human growth hormone in July ruled her out of the semi-finals at the Games.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has now acted by banning Okagbare for 10 years after positive tests for multiple substances and failure to cooperate with investigations
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An AIU statement on Friday 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 AI’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.”
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