Blessing Okagbare: My lawyers studying 10-year ban

Nigerian athlete, Blessing Okagbare, has said that her lawyers are currently studying the 10-year ban placed on her by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for doping.

Okagbare was on Friday banned by the AIU for 10 years for being part of an “organized doping regimen” ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

However, the 33-year-old sprinter, who took to her verified Instagram page on Saturday, said her lawyers have commenced studying the ban, adding that her next line of action will be communicated soon.

She wrote: “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.”

Okagbare was suspended from the Tokyo Olympics last year before she was due to run in the women’s 100m semi-finals after testing positive for human growth hormone at an out-of-competition test in Slovakia on July 19, 2021.

READ ALSO: Athletics Integrity Unit bans Blessing Okagbare for 10 years

She had earlier tested positive for blood booster EPO in Nigeria in June.

The AIU, in a statement, on Friday stated that “the Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years”.

“A ban of 10 year(s) is a strong message against intentional and co-ordinated attempts to cheat at the very highest level of our sport.

“This is an outcome that was driven by our intelligence-led target testing as well as our commitment to investigate the circumstances behind a positive test,” the Unit added.

TheStar