Tokyo2020: Blessing Okagbare Suspended for Failing Drug Test

Nigeria sprinter Blessing Okagbare is out of the Tokyo Olympics after being suspended for failing a drugs test

The Nigerian a rival to Great Britain’s Dina Asher Smith had won her 100m heat on Friday and was due to race in the semi-finals on Saturday.

The Athletics integrity unit (AIU) said the 32 year old had tested positive for a human growth hormone following an out of competition test on 19 July 2021

Okagbare, Olympic long jump silver Medalist in Beijing in 2007, had posted a time of 11.05 seconds in her 100m heat and was set to line up against Asher Smith and Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson Herath in the first semi-final

The news comes days after 10 other Nigerian athletes were declared ineligible for the games.