Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare, Nigeria’s queen of the track, who was banned for 10 years by the Athletics Integrity Unit, AIU, Friday, for alleged multiple breaches of anti-doping rules, has said her lawyers would study the ruling and determine the next line of action.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics silver medalist in long jump made the announcement, Saturday, on her Instagram handle @itsblessingokagbare.
“My attention has been drawn to the statement issued by the AIU regarding its disciplinary panel’s decision. My lawyers are currently studying it for our next line of action which we will inform you soon,” she wrote.
The AIU, an independent body under the World Athletics, had issued a statement on Friday, banning the athlete for use of prohibited substances and refusal to cooperate with the Unit’s investigation.
Okagbare’s travails actually began on July 31, 2021, when she was provisionally suspended on the very day she was to participate in the semi-finals of the Tokyo 2020 women’s 100 metres race.
But on October 7, 2021, the AIU rather charged Okagbare for different 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.
In accordance with Rule 12 of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, she was charged with a refusal to co-operate with AIU’s investigation into her case.
If the ban is sustained, it would effectively mark the end of the career of 34-year-old Okagbare, one of Nigeria’s most decorated athletes. Indeed, it would be a sad commentary on an otherwise glorious career.