Nigeria risks losing Commonwealth Games gold over doping

Team Nigeria is at risk of losing one of the gold medals won at this year’s Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham, England, TheCable can report.

At the games, Nigeria won 12 gold medals — the country’s highest haul in the history of the CWG.

The country also bagged a total of 35 medals and finished as the best-ranked African country on the medals table, placing 7th.

But there are now strong indications that Nigeria may be stripped of the women’s 4x100m relay gold after a member of the quartet allegedly failed a doping test.

The women’s team that won gold in the relay race comprises Tobi Amusan, Rosemary Chukwuma, Favour Ofili, and Grace Nwokocha.

But a top source in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), who confirmed the report to TheCable on Saturday, said Nwokocha “failed the urine test taken on August 3, 2022.”

The insider added that Nwokocha’s A sample tested “positive for anabolic steroids — ostarine and ligandrol.”

“The story is true that Nwokocha failed doping test carried out on her during the just concluded Commonwealth Games,” the source said.

“We are all shocked by this turn of event. After celebrating a glorious outing by the nation at the just concluded Games and this is coming up. It’s so sad, to be honest.

“It was the Anti-Doping and Medical Commission Commonwealth Games Federation that sent the result to Nigeria Anti-Doping (NADO) on August 21.

“They also copied World Athletics, Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) WADA. And the AFN was duly informed with a copy of the letter too.”

It is understood that if Nwokocha, the anchor of the 4x100m relay, does not present cogent reasons to clear her name, Nigeria may be stripped of the gold medal won in the race.

The confirmation of the B sample is still being awaited.

What is ostarine?

Ostarine is a type of drug called a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM). It is not approved by the FDA, but is sometimes found in supplements.

Ostarine attaches to proteins in the body known as androgen receptors. When ostarine binds to these receptors, it enables muscle growth.

What is ligandrol?

Ligandrol is a novel nonsteroidal oral selective androgen receptor modulator for the treatment of conditions such as muscle wasting and osteoporosis. It is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

It is used to increase energy, improve athletic performance, and increase muscle growth among others.