October 27, (THEWILL) – The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has announced that Nigerian sprinter, Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha, has accepted a 3-year ban for doping violations at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The banned substances, Ostarine and Ligandrol, were detected in the sample Nwokocha provided after winning the 100m gold medal on August 3 last year.
Nwokocha was provisionally suspended by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) on August 21, 2022, after being notified of the adverse finding. In May this year, the CGF Court ruled that Nwokocha had committed anti-doping violations without demonstrating the source of the prohibited substances or that she bore no fault. Her results from the 100m and 200m events were disqualified and medals forfeited.
With the CGF decision final, Nwokocha promptly entered negotiations with the AIU and accepted a 3-year ban starting from the date of sample collection on 3 August 2022. This period of ineligibility ends on 2 August 2025. In addition, Nwokocha’s results from 3 August 2022 until her provisional suspension on 2 September 2022 were disqualified.
The 27-year-old, who reached the 100m final at last year’s World Championships, will not be eligible to compete again until just before the 2028 Olympics. The AIU stated that the case has now concluded under World Athletics rules. This dents Nwokocha’s rapid rise in the sport after breakthrough sprint performances over the past two seasons.
Nwokocha’s doping violation is the latest setback for Nigeria’s checkered anti-doping record especially following the decade-long ban recently handed to sprinter Divine Oduduru. The sanctions send a strong message about upholding integrity at major championships. However, the loss of a potential medalist is also a blow to Nigeria’s future medal hopes.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
