Team Nigeria may be stripped of Commonwealth Gold Medal after Nwokocha positive test
The team featuring Tobi Amusan, RoseMary Chukwuma, Favour Ofili and Grace Nwokocha, won the gold with a new African record of 42.10s
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria is facing a fresh doping crisis, as a member of the Nigeria women 4x100m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham has failed a dope test according to Mainlandnews.com.ng
The team featuring Tobi Amusan, RoseMary Chukwuma, Favour Ofili and Grace Nwokocha, won the gold with a new African record of 42.10s.
But this would now amount to nothing as the anchor of the race Nwokocha, is in the dope dragnet.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has been notified of the development by the World Anti-doping agency as the confirmation of the B sample is still being awaited. As a rule the team would be stripped of the medal and the performance if the athlete is not exonerated.
AFN president Tonobok expressed shock at the turn of events, saying: “I’m not yet aware of any positive test, but that would be shocking.”
However, AFN sources confirmed that a letter has been sent to the federation. “Maybe the secretary-general has not briefed the president and the members.”
Sure the experience would be bitter for the rest of the team who celebrated the medal like their lives depended on it. This is because they narrowly missed the podium at the World Championships in Oregon USA.
Nwokocha was born April 7, 2001 is, a multiple-time national champion over 100 metres.
In 2021, she posted new personal best time in the 100m of 11.09 and, in the process, became the first Nigerian athlete to qualify for the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.She also won the 100m at the National Sports Festival in Benin.
At the Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metres she ran a new personal best time of 11.00 seconds in her heat to qualify for the semi finals.
In 2022 she came sixth in the final of the NCAA championship in both the 100 metres and the 200 metres. She entered both the 100m and the 200m at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and reached the semi finals at both events. She also won the Nigerian National Championships over 100 metres.
