Tokyo 2020 Olympics: AIU Suspends Blessing Okagbare After Tests Positive

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: AIU Suspends Blessing Okagbare After Tests Positive By Our Reporter Nigeria track queen, Blessing Okagbare has been suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) with immediate effect after a sample collected from the sprinter 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 collected the sample from Ms. Okagbare during an out-of-competition test on 19 July. 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. She was scheduled to participate in the semi-finals of the women’s 100m Saturday evening. Okagbare, a medal hope for Nigeria will no longer participate in the women's 100m semi-final at the ongoing 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The AIU says it will make no further comment on this matter at this time.