Nigerian drug test positive

NIGERIAN sprinter Blessing Okagbare has been booted out of the Olympic Games after failing a drugs test.

The Nigerian, who was due to line up against Dina Asher-Smith in the 100m semi-finals on Saturday, tested positive for human growth hormone on July 19. Okagbare learnt the news a day after winning her heat in 11.05sec on Friday.

This development serves as a further blow to the Nigerian delegation after 10 of their track and field team were ruled as ineligible for the Tokyo Games three days ago for failing to meet minimum testing requirements. The 32-year-old Okagbare will now also miss the 200m, which will also be without Asher-Smith, who will miss the event in the wake of her suffering a torn hamstring.

Okagbare’s departure was followed by an announcement from Team Kenya that their male 100m sprinter Mark Otieno had also tested positive for a banned substance. A team spokesman said Otieno, a 10.05sec runner at his best, ‘denied any knowledge of the violation and has subsequently requested a re-analysis of his B urine sample’.