Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare has been banned for 11 years for doping. Earlier this runner was banned for 10 years, which has been extended for one more year. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has charged the 33-year-old with trying to evade sample collection, tampering with or tampering with doping control procedures.
In February, Okagbare was banned for multiple violations of anti-doping rules. He was suspended after he failed a drug test at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. He had won the 100m heat event with a timing of 11.05 seconds.
Nigeria lost its potential qualification spot in the women’s 4x100m relay at July’s World Championships following an additional ban on Okagbare. Nigeria participated in the Olympic relay trials on 13 June after avoiding sample collection on 7 June last year, which helped the team qualify for the World Championships.
However, all results associated with Blessing have been disqualified. Okagbayer won silver medals in the long jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2013 World Championships. She also won the 100 and 200 meters races at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
