Nigeria loses gold for doping offence at 2022 Commonwealth Games

*From left, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Grace Nwokocha celebrate after winning the women’s 4×100 metres relay gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England on Aug. 7. (Reuters/NAN)
Nigeria loses gold for doping offence at 2022 commonwealth games
*from left, nigeria’s tobi amusan, favour ofili, rosemary chukwuma and grace nwokocha celebrate after winning the women’s 4×100 metres relay gold medal at the 2022 commonwealth games in birmingham, england on aug. 7. (reuters/nan)

England has been awarded the women’s 4×100 metres relay gold from the 2022 Commonwealth Games after race winners Nigeria had their result expunged.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) announced this on Friday.

England finished second in the race at the Games in Birmingham in August.

However, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) later provisionally suspended Nigeria’s anchor Grace Nwokocha for the use of banned substances.

As a result, her individual and team results at Birmingham 2022 have been annulled by the CGF.

Jamaica were promoted to silver, while Australia took bronze.

The quartet of Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Grace Nwokocha claimed gold in the 4×100 meters race during last year’s Commonwealth Games (CWG).

Nwokocha, who ran the anchor leg for Nigeria, however, failed a doping test during the competition after ostarine and lingadrol were found in her sample A urine.

Consequently, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) handed her a provisional suspension, banning her from the sport.

In a statement on Friday, the CGF disclosed that the Commonwealth Games Federation Court has disqualified Nwokocha and nullified all the results involving her at the competition.

“The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) can confirm that the Commonwealth Games Federation Court has issued their decision regarding an in-competition sample provided by Ms Nwokocha, who competed in Athletics at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games,” the statement reads.

“Analysis of the sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for Ostarine and Dihydroxy-LGD-4033, a metabolite of Ligandrol. Both are non-Specified Substances, listed under Other Anabolic Agents in the WADA 2022 Prohibited List.

“Accordingly, the Federation Court disqualified Ms Nwokocha’s results from the following events, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any points and prizes: Athletics – Women’s 100m, Athletics – Women’s 200m, Athletics – Women’s 4x100m Relay, including the team’s forfeiture of the gold medal.”

The federation added that Nwokocha’s case has been forwarded to AIU for further consequence.