Concerns As Nigeria May Be Stripped of Commonwealth Games Gold Medal Over Doping

Concerns As Nigeria May Be Stripped of Commonwealth Games Gold Medal Over Doping

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:10 PM
  • Nigeria could be stripped of the gold medal won in the women’s 4x100m relay gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham
  • The World Anti-Doping Agency has reached out to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria that a member of the quartet failed a doping test
  • Sample B is expected, and if the athlete is not exonerated, the team would be stripped of the medal

The gold-winning quartet of Tobi Amusan, Rosemary Chukwuma, Favour Ofili and Grace Nwokocha might be stripped of their medals.

Reports have it that an unnamed member of Nigeria women’s 4x100m relay gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham failed a doping test.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has reportedly reached out to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria over the development as the confirmation of the B sample is still being awaited.

Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Grace Nwokocha, Rosemary Chukwuma
Nigeria may be stripped of the Commonwealth Games Women's 4x100 gold medal. Photo: Michael Steele
Source: Getty Images

If the athlete is not exonerated, the team would be immediately stripped of the medal they won.

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Confirming the development, the president of the AFN, Tonobok Okowa, told Saturday Punch:

“The letter from the World Anti-Doping Agency just reached the federation today (Friday), and we are shocked to hear this for the first time. We risk being stripped of the 4x100m Commonwealth Games gold we won in Birmingham.
“But we will carry out our investigation. Although an athlete is responsible for anything that has to do with doping, this is not a good development for us.”

When asked for the name of the suspected athlete, AFN head coach Seigha Porbeni declined to say a public statement would be made after investigations are concluded. He added:

“No, I can’t disclose the identity of the athlete now because we need to confirm exactly what happened and conclude on our findings before making a public statement.
“The matter is still being investigated and it’s not yet confirmed. What we got is notification letter, so, that everybody concerned will be ready for their defence.”

Medal-winning Team Nigeria members rewarded after Commonwealth Games

Sports Brief earlier reported that Nigeria’s Sports Ministry rewarded all medal-winning athletes who flew the country’s flag high at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

It was gathered that all medallists and their coaches were paid cash rewards from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for their heroics in Birmingham.

According to the Nigerian outlet, Vanguard, gold medallists were given $5,000 each, silver medallists received $3,000, and bronze medallists got $2,000.

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
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