Disciplinary Tribunal hands Blessing Okagbare a 10-year ban for multiple breaches of the Anti-Doping Rules

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 AlU'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 AlU'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 víolatíons of the rules by others, for which he imposed an additional sanction of five years.

"We welcome the decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal; a ban of 10-year is a strong message against intentional and co-ordinated attempts to cheat at the very highest level of our sport. This is an outcome that was driven by our intelligence-led target testing as well as our commitment to investigate the circumstances behind a positive test," said Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU.

On 07 October 2021, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AlU) had pressed charges against Ms Okagbare in relation to separate disciplinary matters. First, for the presence and use of multiple (two) prohibited substances (human Growth Hormone (hGH) and recombinant erythropoietin (EPO)) for which Ms Okagbare had been provisionally suspended on 31 July 2021, the day on which she had been scheduled to participate in the semi-finals of the Tokyo 2020 women's 100m.

Subsequently, in accordance with Rule 12 of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, she was charged with a refusal to co-operate with the AlU's investigation into her case.

The athlete has the right to appeal against the Disciplinary Tribunal's decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 30-days.

NOTE

On 12 January 2022, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced the unsealing of a first criminal charge under the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act against Eric Lira, a US based "naturopathic" therapist, who is alleged to have supplied performance enhancing drugs to athletes before the Tokyo Olympic Games. The sole arbitrator concluded that Athlete 1 named in the criminal complaint is Blessing Okagbare.

The criminal investigation in the United States is ongoing and the AlU is working closely with USADA to follow developments in the matter.

The AlU is thankful to USADA, the FBI and the US Attorney's Office for their contribution to the integrity of our sport.

Athletics Integrity Unit

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https://www.nairaland.com/6677864/tokyo2020-blessing-okagbare-provisionally-suspended

https://www.nairaland.com/6936992/eric-lira-charged-peddling-drugs#109326014

E don be.
Even if she appeals and the sentence is reduced,she will never be a top gun again.It's a sad end.

10 years ban?
But that Russian girl wey fail her own wetin them don do am?
Racism everywhere.

They simply end her career
She was a good athlete notwithstanding.

We still love you Sis !

silverlinen:
10 years ban?
But that Russian girl wey fail her own wetin them don do am?
Racism everywhere.

She is 15 and falls under the "protected persons" category.

Athletes below 16 are not held liable....so says the CAS. Still rubbish though/

Thank you Blessing for everything.

This Sad.....

So terrible

Na to retire be that

Wahala

Chooooiiii!!!

Finally, village witches don visit this one

Na wa o. Wetin dey happen?

I read the story. no be usa she dey? she fit go dey flip burgers or go back and become iya alata.

all the sports althletes dey use one drug or another. dem go say dem get heart problem. all of them, including the biggest from usa, lance armstrong !

The law is always harder on the blacks. But still doesn't remove the fact that if she truly did the offence, she should be held liable for it

They have shattered her career

10 years! what would she be doing? na to go find another passion and career.

Make she go learn to fry akara ooo.
Kidding though

Quite unfortunate

Breeze don blow...

This is not good.

Why do athletes cheat when they know they can easily be tested, detected, and banned?

Eweeeeeey!

Wow, she looks like Rihanna in the second picture up there

By the way, I'm available for your writing and design jobs, see my signature below, thanks

What happens to the Russian lady

Hope no be Buhari give her a call

Elijahrona:
So sad for her.

Serves as a lesson that we should abide by the law or be ready to face the consequences.

I just hope that there's a way to revert this, else this is the end of her career.

The way APC, Buhari and Abba Kyari obey law.

don't worry. she fit dey sell pepper for ketu. that husband go don spill

OmoEsan:
10 years! what would she be doing? na to go find another passion and career.

Kai. Our talented Blessing okagbare don turn Marion jones!

It’s Finished

Sorry momma

It seems everything good is ending in this Buhari's administration