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On February 17, 2022, the Disciplinary Tribunal suspended Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare from competition for 10 years.
Okagbare has been handed five years for testing positive for a number of prohibited substances and an additional five years for not cooperating with the Athletics Integrity Unit’s (AIU) investigation.
Meanwhile, another significant decision against her is that Nigeria has lost its potential qualification place for the women’s 4×100-metre relay at next month’s World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Six days after Okagbare evaded sample collection (June 13, 2021), she competed in the 4x100m relay event at the Nigeria Olympic Trials, with her relay squad qualifying for this year’s World Championships. All individual and relay results involving Okagbare, from June 13, 2021, are now disqualified under the Rules. Reports the AIU.
The Athletics Integrity Unit has issued charges against 🇳🇬 sprinter Blessing Okagbare in relation to three disciplinary matters.
— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) October 7, 2021
Read the full statement below 👁️ ⬇️ #AIUNews#MySportMyIntegrity#CleanSport#FairSport pic.twitter.com/dx7QdHxmkd
There is a statute of limitations to testing of 10 years and a storage capacity of 10 years. The benefit for testing agencies, WADA, and the AIU to the long-term testing and re-testing period means seeking new performance-enhancing drugs and methods and finding more effective ways to test, puts the testing ahead of the dopers, eventually.
