▪︎AFN expresses shock
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) said it received with great shock the suspension of Blessing Okagbare by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for a doping rule violation.
The Federation, in a statement, said it is in the process of obtaining the relevant details of the announcement after which a full reaction will be issued.
The AIU, in the press release, said the Nigerian 100/200m record holder has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect after a sample collected from the 32 year old tested positive for human Growth Hormone.
Growth Hormone is a non-specified substance on the 2021 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List and a provisional suspension is mandatory following an adverse analytical finding for such substance under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.
The AIU said it collected the sample from Okagbare during an out-of-competition test on 19 July and revealed the WADA-accredited laboratory that analysed the sample notified the AIU of the adverse analytical finding at mid-day Central European Time yesterday, Friday 30 July.
The athlete was notified of the adverse analytical finding and of her provisional suspension Saturday morning in Tokyo.
(The Nation)