Nigerian Athlete, Blessing Okagbare Gets 10-year Ban For Doping

Nigerian athlete, Blessing Okagbare, has reportedly been banned for a total of 10 years for breaking of anti-doping rules.

According to Instablog9ja.com, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Friday, said the sole arbitrator adjudicating the case concluded that Okagbare’s “use of multiple prohibited substances” was “part of an organized doping regimen in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympic Games.” This “egregious conduct” led to an increase in the normal four-year sanction.

The 33-year-old, who denied all charges, was slapped with a 5 year-ban for returning doping tests positive for EPO as well as Human Growth Hormone. Blessing was then handed an additional five-year ban for refusing to cooperate with an AIU investigation.

“We welcome the decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal. A ban of 10 years is a strong message against intentional and coordinated 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 AIU chief Brett Clothier. Recall that Okagbare was suspended during the Tokyo Olympics after failing a dr#g test.

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