Olympic medallist Ujah denies using a banned substance

GREAT Britain sprinter CJ Ujah has denied cheating after breaking his silence over a positive drug test at the Tokyo Olympics.

Ujah, a silver medallist in the sprint relay, says he is ‘shocked and devastated’ after being provisionally suspended for an alleged doping breach.

The 27-year-old’s case threatens to land British sport with the biggest scandal in its Olympic history.

‘It’s taken me a few days to process the information I received on Thursday shortly before it was made public,’ Ujah (below) said in a statement.

‘I’m completely shocked and devastated by this news.

‘To be absolutely clear, I’m not a cheat and I have never and would never knowingly take a banned substance.’

Ujah’s ‘adverse analytical finding’ showed the presence/ use of prohibited substances ostarine and S-23, both of which help to build muscle.

UK Athletics is preparing a root-and-branch review of its world-class performance programme following the positive test.

The review will examine its funding structure and the fact that many of its athletes are based outside of the UK.

Ujah has spent long periods training in the US. In 2018, he joined the Phoenix-based Altis elite training group that included Canada’s Andre De Grasse — Tokyo’s 200m champion — as well Britain’s Daryll Neita, said to be in a relationship with Ujah. Jodie Williams, the Briton who finished sixth in the women’s 400m final in Tokyo, has also trained with the Altis group. Lamont Marcell Jacobs, the Italian who dismissed suspicions around his shock victory in the 100m in Tokyo, said Ujah’s positive test ‘makes me smile’. Ujah can request analysis of the B sample taken during his test before his case is referred to the Court of Arbitration of Sport. The British sprint quartet — which includes Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake — will be stripped of their Tokyo silver medal if the charge of drugs cheating against Ujah is upheld. ‘I love my sport and I know my responsibilities both as an athlete and as a teammate,’ Ujah added. ‘I’m respecting the formal processes and will not be making any further comment until it is appropriate to do so.’ Bahrain’s 1500m runner Sadik Mikhou, Georgian shot-putter Benik Abramyan and Kenyan sprinter Mark Otieno Odhiambo have also been provisionally suspended following adverse tests in Tokyo.