Sports

Blessing Okagbare gets 10 year ban, has 30 days to appeal

Published

4 years ago

February 18, 2022

Recall that the 2008 long jump silver medalist was expelled from the Tokyo Olympics last year before the women’s 100m semi-finals after she tested positive for human growth hormone at an out-of-competition test in Slovakia on the 19th of July.

Giving an update on her case, the Athletics Integrity Unit in a press release published today and titled ‘Disciplinary Tribunal hands Blessing Okagbare a 10-year ban for multiple breaches of the Anti-Doping Rules’, announced the ban, adding that it is a strong message against intentional and co-ordinated attempts to cheat at the very highest level of Sport.

“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 AIU statement, which quotes Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU, began.

“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”.

‘The sole arbitrator also recognised the AIU’s right to carry out investigations, including the imaging of electronic devices, and to impose sanctions when an athlete refuses to co-operate with an investigation and thereby frustrates the AIU’s ability to fulfil its mandate to protect the integrity of the sport of athletics. In this instance, the sole arbitrator concluded that the athlete’s refusal to cooperate had denied the AIU the opportunity to discover evidence of possible further rule violations by her as well possible violations of the rules by others, for which he imposed an additional sanction of five years”, the statement went on.

Accepting the decision of the Tribunal, Brett Clothier was quoted to have added, “We welcome the decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal; a ban of 10-year 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 press release, however, added that Blessing Okagbare has 30 days ultimatum to file for an appeal against the tribunal’s decision. “The athlete has the right to appeal against the Disciplinary Tribunal’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 30-days. The reasoned decision can be accessed here”, it said. Blessing Okagbare gets 10 year ban, has 30 days to appeal

Sports

Super Eagles Of Nigeria Vs South Africa #AFCON2023 Semi-Final

Published

2 years ago

February 4, 2024

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Newsmax online reports that Super Eagles of Nigeria will face South Africa in the first Semi Finals of the 2023 African Cup Of Nations Slated for Wednesday.

Captain Ronwen Williams saved four shootout penalties as part of an outstanding goalkeeping display to help South Africa reach the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a gruelling win over Cape Verde following a goalless draw after extra time.

Bebe, Willy Semedo, Laros Duarte and Bryan Teixeira were all denied by the inspired Williams, who also made a spectacular late save to tip Gilson Benchimol’s first-time strike against the woodwork with extra time looming during a contest largely characterised by poor finishing.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha made two exceptional saves in quick succession shortly after extra time began to deny Mihlali Mayambela and Teboho Mokoena.

South Africa will now have the chance to avenge their defeat to Nigeria on their last appearance in the Afcon semi-finals, when they were beaten 2-0 by the Super Eagles in 2000.

The 1996 champions will attempt to bridge a 24-place gap in Fifa’s rankings when they meet the three-time winners in Bouake on Wednesday

South Africa and Nigeria are two sides that have a lot of history. The game is always a serious rivalry, and it promises to be an interesting fixture.

Ivory Coast won their quarterfinal against Mali 2-1 earlier in the day and meet DR Congo in the last four

Sports

Nigeria Beat Angola To Reach AFCON Semifinal…

Published

2 years ago

February 2, 2024

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the semi-final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

Nigeria booked a place in the next phase of the competition after defeating Angola 1-0 on Friday.

Ademola Lookman delivered the killer blow as Nigeria overcame Angola’s physical approach to moved into the last 4.

Lookman’s goal came at 41 minute just before halftime, following unselfish play from Moses Simon.

**Goalscorer Lookman and Osihmen celebrates during the q’finals game against Angola.**

For the Super Eagles, it was sweet vengeance over the Palancas Negras who in June 2005 prevented Nigeria from qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

For the Angolans who are ranked 117th in the world – 75 places below Nigeria – it was yet another failed bid to reach the AFCON semi-final for the first time ever.

Next, Nigeria will face the winner between Cape Verde and South Africa on Wednesday, February 7.

Details later…

Sports

BREAKING: AIU Clears Tobi Amusan Of Doping Violations, Lifts Suspension

Published

2 years ago

August 17, 2023

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“A panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal, by majority decision, has today found that Tobi Amusan has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period,” the statement read.

AIU has cleared Tobi Amusan of doping violations and lifts suspension on her.

Newsmaxngr reports that the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has cleared Nigerian track queen Tobi Amusan of doping violations with the provisional suspension on her lifted. She can now compete at the 2023 World Athletics Championships which begins on Saturday in Budapest.

This Nigeria News Platform understands that in a statement from the AIU on Thursday, the body lifted the suspension placed on her last month for whereabouts failures.

“AIU Head Brett Clothier has indicated the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is disappointed by this decision and will review the reasoning in detail before deciding whether to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within the applicable deadline.

“The decision is currently confidential but will be published in due course. Amusan’s provisional suspension has now been lifted with immediate effect.”