The disciplinary
tribunal of Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has handed Blessing Okagbare,
Nigeria sprinter, a 10-year ban for breaching multiple anti-doping rules.
According to the statement released by
AIU on Friday, the Nigerian got five years for the presence and use of multiple
prohibited substances and another half-a-decade for her refusal to cooperate
with the body’s investigation of her case.
The sprinter was 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.
She was then slammed with three separate anti-doping charges by the body.
In January 2022, the US department of justice had also
allegedly identified Okagbare among the exhibits gathered against one Eric
Lira, the self-acclaimed kinesiologist and naturopathic doctor, who provided
performance-enhancing drugs to athletes who participated at the Tokyo Olympics.
The 33-year-old has now been prohibited from all track and
field events organised by World Athletics for the next decade.
“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 statement read.
“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.”
The statement added that the athlete has the right to appeal
against the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CaS) within 30
days.
More to follow…
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