Nigerian sprinter Grace Nwokocha has been suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), Clariform can report. Nwokocha was part of the quartet that won gold for Nigeria in the 4x100m relay at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
She was suspended her for the use of Ostarine and Ligandrol, two anabolic agents which is a banned substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) which was allegedly found in Nwokocha’s blood sample.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the AIU said, “The AIU has provisionally suspended Nigerian runner, Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha, for the Presence/Use of Prohibited Substances (Ostarine & Ligandrol) (Article 2.1 and Article 2.2).”
Although it is a provisional suspension, it means that she is temporarily banned from competition before a final decision is taken at a hearing conducted under WADA rules.
Recall that 21 year-old Nwokocha took the anchor leg in Birmingham at the just concluded Common Wealth Games as Nigeria clinched gold in a record-breaking fashion at the Commonwealth Games.
Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Tobi Amusan were the other members of the winning quartet that set a new African Record of 42.10s.
As we earlier reported yesterday, the gold medal and African record are at risk of being stripped off Nigeria.
According to doping rule, any performance in its entirety, even if just a member of the team is guilty of the doping infraction. Hence Nigeria may loose the medal.
While the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has said it would be investigating the Nwokocha doping saga, our findings show the sprinter’s training mate in the United States has also been accused of doping.
Randolph, Nwokocha’s training mate was disqualified from the World Athletics Championships held in Oregon a night to his 400-meter preliminary race because he failed to turn up for an anti-doping test.
Clariform recalls that Blessing Okagbare was also a victim of a provisional suspension before she was handed a 10-year ban for multiple doping infractions and failure to corporate with investigators.
