Blessing Okagbare could be taking the World Athletics and its Athletes Integrity Unit arm to court after she was handed tough sanctions over doping offences.
The Nigerian sprinter and long jumper was banned for 10 years on Friday for failing a dope test and allegedly refusing to co-operate with investigators.
“The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing
Okagbare for a total of 10 years, five years for the presence and use of multiple prohibited substances and five years for her refusal to co-operate with the AIU’s investigation into her case,” the AIU announced on Friday.
“The sole arbitrator adjudicating the case concluded that the athlete’s use of multiple prohibited substances as part of an organised doping regimen in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympic Games was egregious conduct that amounted to aggravating circumstances under the Rules thereby warranting an additional period of ineligibility on top of the standard four-year sanction.
“The sole arbitrator also recognised the AIU’s right to carry out investigations, including the imaging of electronic devices, and to impose sanctions when an athlete refuses to co-operate with an investigation and thereby frustrates the AIU’s ability to fulfil its mandate to protect the integrity of the sport of athletics. In this instance, the sole arbitrator concluded that the athlete’s refusal to cooperate had denied the AIU the opportunity to discover evidence of possible further rule violations by her as well possible violations of the rules by others, for which he imposed an additional sanction of five years.”
Beijing 2008 Olympics long jump silver medallist Okagbare, 33, has 30 days to appeal to the highest adjudication body in sports, the Court of Arbitration in Sport, and she says she might take up the option.
”My attention has been drawn to the statement issued by the AIU regarding its disciplinary panel decision. My lawyers are currently studying it for our next line of action which we will inform you soon,” she wrote on her Instagram page on Saturday morning.
Okagbare was stopped from participating in the Tokyo Olympics women’s 100m semi-finals last August after she test positive for the banned human growth hormone. The human growth hormone was found in her system following an out-of-competition test carried out in July.
She was then charged in October with three doping breaches, although she denied the charges
