Sports
Olympics: Another blow for Nigeria as Oduduru gets disqualified
Lesser than 24 hours after Blessing Okagbare was provisionally disqualified with immediate effect by the Athletic Integrity Unit (AIU), Divine Oduduru, has also been disqualified from the 100m men’s event for a false start at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, the video replay showed America’s Fred Kerley had made a movement before the gun but it was Oduduru who was disqualified, starting from Lane 2.
The 24-year-old holds personal bests of 9.86 seconds for the 100m. He also holds the national best of 19.73 seconds for the 200m.
NewsWireNGR earlier reported that AIU revealed that an out-of-competition sample from Okagbare tested positive for human growth hormone.
The AIU informed Okagbare of her suspension on Saturday morning, it said. Under doping regulations, she is now allowed to request that a “B” sample — or backup sample — is tested to double-check the results.
Meanwhile, Okagbare had earlier won her heat in 11.05 seconds.
According to the AIU, the results of that test were only received by the track and field’s anti-doping body late Friday and after Okagbare had already run in the 100 heats on the opening day of track competition at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.
The suspension is hours before the sprinter was due to compete in the semifinals of the women’s 100 meters at the Olympics.
