OKAGBARE’S FURTHER BAN DISQUALIFIES NIGERIA’S 4X100 RELAY SQUAD’S QUALIFYING TIME FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Head of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), Brett Clothier, is encouraging athletes and entourage to report suspected doping, noting the unscrupulous behaviour of dopers could have damning repercussions for their team-mates and country.

His comments come in the wake of already-banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare being found to have committed additional anti-doping rule violations – specifically Evading Sample Collection, and Tampering or Attempted Tampering with the Doping Control process.

While Okagbare has had her current 10-year ban from athletics extended by one year (now 11 years in total), another significant consequence of this decision against her is that Nigeria has lost its potential qualification place for the women’s 4x100-metre relay at next month’s World Athletics Championships in the USA. This is because six days after Ms Okagbare evaded sample collection (June 13, 2021), she competed in the 4x100m relay event at the Nigeria Olympic Trials, with her relay squad qualifying for this year’s World Championships. All individual and relay results involving Okagbare, from June 13, 2021, are now disqualified under the Rules.

“Over the years, we have repeatedly seen how one person’s actions adversely affect team-mates who have trained hard and worked honestly for their results,” noted Clothier.

“In a relay team, if one member violates the anti-doping rules, everyone bears the brunt of results being expunged. They all pay the price. In this instance, Nigeria has lost an important qualification spot. Those are the rules and we will not compromise on integrity.”

On 14 February, 2022, the Disciplinary Tribunal banned Okagbare for 10 years; consecutive five-year bans for the presence and use of multiple prohibited substances, and for her refusal to co-operate with the AIU’s investigation into her case. The prohibited substances were human Growth Hormone (hGH) and recombinant erythropoietin (EPO). This decision stemmed from charges which the AIU brought against Ms Okagbare on 07 October, 2021.

On 10 June, 2022, the AIU further charged Ms Okagbare with Evading Sample Collection, and Tampering or Attempted Tampering with the Doping Control process. These charges related to the circumstances of the athlete’s Whereabouts Failure on 13 June, 2021, and were pursued based on information in a criminal charge, brought against US-based “naturopathic” therapist Eric Lira, on 12 January, 2022, by the United States Department of Justice under the Rodchenkov Act. Mr Lira is alleged to have supplied performance-enhancing drugs to athletes before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (delayed until summer 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic).

The complaint against Mr Lira provides specific information of his interaction with a person named ‘Athlete 1’, including a written exchange on or around 13 June, 2021, demonstrating that ‘Athlete 1’ knowingly and deliberately avoided testing by a Doping Control Officer in Jacksonsville, Florida. There was also other pertinent information about ‘Athlete 1’ in the criminal complaint which led the AIU Disciplinary Tribunal’s sole arbitrator to be “comfortably satisfied” that ‘Athlete 1’ is Blessing Okagbare, including text conversations imaged from Ms Okagbare’s mobile phone by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Ms Okagbare failed to respond to the charges by the extended deadline (21 June, 2022) and is therefore deemed to have admitted the anti-doping rule violations (under Rule 2.3 and Rule 2.5 of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules) and to have accepted the consequences.

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Quest for much coveted victory ends career of once revered athlete. Glory songs once voiced upon mountain tops now reeks with shame amidst valley of losers...

Chaiii.........she was not obidient to AIU.

Let her return home and so I teach her how to be Obidient ahead of 2023 Race.......Yes, the presidiential 4x400m Sprinter Race.

All individual and relay results involving Okagbare, from June 13, 2021, are now disqualified under the Rules.

Akosibero ... What a disgraceful end to a blissful career

The rise and fall of a great man. We've so much underrated this trait called Discipline. Fame will take you anywhere but character and discipline will keep/sustain you. I love to hear her name and that of chioma ajunwa in the world of women athletics. It is well.

Nawa

Just nekwa

Unless u come my house and beg me to help u run the 4*100 meter, with assurance of 5b$, then I will consider it because I know we will win.

Oya vote for obi!

Awọn alakoba!

That's not the end many people fall but they never fail to rise again, if God never end your career no man can do it, just get backups.

Make them free that girl. Na our main star for naija be that ooo for medal

This smells of a witch-hunt . Because Blessing Okagbare refused. to be intimidated.

fergie001:

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Misleading headline…
Her ban affected the Olympic relay team, not the present team.
>

Las las scam no dey pay.

Deborah98:
The rise and fall of a great man. We've so much underrated this trait called Discipline. Fame will take you anywhere but character and discipline will keep/sustain you. I love to hear her name and that of chioma ajunwa in the world of women athletics. It is well.

Chioma Ajunwa was banned for 4yrs (1991-95) after which she rose to glory or her return from ban an won Olympics gold.

She should go and rest. Much better athletes are emerging already

Is it only the woman we have?

The problem about Nigeria is that they believe in the monopolisation of skills.

If someone was banned, you mean no other person can replace her?

9jaRealist:


Misleading headline…
Her ban affected the Olympic relay team, not the present team.
>

You are wrong. It is affecting the team that will participate in the World Athletics Championships next month.

She was part of the quartet that qualified for the tournament in June last year @ Yaba.

thebosstrevor1:
Is it only the woman we have?

The problem about Nigerian is that they believe in the monopolisation of skills.

If someone was banned, you mean no other person can replace her?

How did you arrive at that conclusion from the articel?

Leave their sport for them

Maxymilliano:


Akosibero ... What a disgraceful end to a blissful career

nonsense

Leave when your ovasion is loudest.

Oga ó

SmartyPants:


How did you arrive at that conclusion from the articel?

Because it is written in the aiu letter headed press release

Her ban disqualified a whole squad, that means they have nobody to replace her