Olympics: Second dope test rules Nigerian athletes out of London

Posted by admin Headlines, Sports, Track & Field Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

The mandatory second test carried out on three alleged drug-tainted Nigerian athletes in Surrey, United Kingdom, has confirmed two of the athletes to have failed the dope test and completely ruled out of the 2012 Olympics.

Vivian Chikwuemeka, Lauretta Ozoh and Regina George were alleged to have tested positive for banned substance.

One of them is likely to be cleared following hearings carried out by the World Anti Dope Agency according to the Nigeria Olympic Committee officials.

The name of the athlete that could earn a reprieve was not released to the public. The Team Nigeria doctor in charge of doping matters Dr Kenneth Anugweje who confirmed the development said that other athletes in the Surrey camp have been found to be clean at least for now.

He said, “Tests earlier carried out in Surrey camp only confirmed earlier reports at the athletics championships in Calabar. For the three athletes in the team standing trial for doping violations, hearing has been held for two. One is likely to be cleared.”

The three athletes who were already registered for the Games allegedly tested positive banned substances and their names withdrawn from the Team Nigeria list. The athletes had represented the country in the 2012 African Senior Athletics Championship which held last month in Porto Novo in Republic of Benin.

It was not exactly clear if any of the athletes cleared could re-enter for the Olympics.

“I certainly cannot confirm that for now. It has not been made known how long the process of clearing would take,” the Press Attache to Team Nigeria Tony Ubani said at the Games Village on Wednesday.

One of the implications is that Nigeria will lose the top spot from the African meet to Kenya as the medals won by the athletes will be withdrawn from the final table. Any of them that have served suspension in the past over doping will likely get a life ban under the international rules.

The confirmation has not affected morales at the Games Village as the Nigerians continued with their training sessions on Wednesday. Apart from training they are also preparing for the opening ceremony scheduled for Friday.

via Punchwp_posts