Nigeria: Doping - Nigeria Stripped of Commonwealth Games Relay Gold

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(file photo).
16 July 2023
Leadership (Abuja)
By Affa Acho

The Commonwealth Games Federation has stripped Nigeria of the gold medal won in the women's 4x100m at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Nigeria was stripped of the gold medal after investigations on the positive doping result returned by Grace Nwokocha who was part of the quartet.

Nwokocha was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit after her sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for Ostarine and Dihydroxy-LGD-4033, a metabolite of Ligandrol. Both are non-Specified Substances, listed under Other Anabolic Agents in the WADA 2022 Prohibited List.

Nwokocha had ran the anchor leg at the Alexander Stadium, fending off opposition from England's Daryll Neita and Jamaica Elaine Thompson-Herah to claim the gold medal in an African Record time of 42.10secs.

The statement published on the Games website said, Federation Court disqualified Ms Nwokocha's results from the women's 100m, women's 200m, women's 4x100m with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any points and prizes.

With the withdrawal of Nigeria's medal, England were promoted to first position, Jamaica second, while Australia were promoted to third.

The statement read, "The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) can confirm that the Commonwealth Games Federation Court has issued their decision regarding an in-competition sample provided by Ms Nwokocha, who competed in Athletics at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

"Analysis of the sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for Ostarine and Dihydroxy-LGD-4033, a metabolite of Ligandrol. Both are non-Specified Substances, listed under Other Anabolic Agents in the WADA 2022 Prohibited List.

"On 17 May 2023, The Federation Court issued a decision that Ms Nwokocha had committed the following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) under the 2022 Commonwealth Games Anti-Doping Rules (ADRs):

"Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in the Athlete's Sample, pursuant to Article 2.1 of the ADRs; and Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method, pursuant to Article 2.2 of the ADRs.

"Accordingly, the Federation Court disqualified Ms Nwokocha's results from the following events, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any points and prizes:

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