Nigerian Nigerian track and field athlete, Blessing Okagbare has on Saturday, reacted to to the 10 years ban slapped on her by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for what it described as “multiple breaches of the Anti-Doping Rules”.
In a statement released by the AIU of a ruling by the Disciplinary Tribunal of the AIU, which we reported on Friday, the AIU said the sole arbitrator adjudicating the case concluded that Okagbare was guilty of (i) “use of multiple (two) prohibited substances”, and (ii) for “refusal to co-operate with the AIU’s investigation into her case”.
In its ruling, the Disciplinary Tribunal ruled, that “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 statement further stated, that, “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”.
Reacting to the ruling on Saturday, Blessing Okagbare, who specializes in long jumping and short sprints, wrote via her official Twitter account saying, her lawyers are currently studying the AIU’s statement to decide the next line of action.
“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.”, the 33-year old Olympic and World Championship Silver, Bronze Medalist reacted.
Picture Credit: blessingokagbare.com
