There are fresh indications a United States law enforcement agency is presently pursuing a case against Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare in relation to her doping case which broke out at the last Tokyo Olympics.
There have been no new updates from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU since placing a provisional suspension on the 32-year old for the supposed doping infractions.
Nigerians and the world at large woke up to shocking news of the suspension of Okagbare on the eve of the Women’s 100m semi-final race at the Tokyo Olympics.
While Okagbare’s compatriot, Grace Nwokocha went on to compete in one of the semi-final races but failed to make the final, it was a lesser concern for many compared to the devastating blow on the most celebrated Nigerian athlete in recent times.
The AIU in its first and only statement on Okagbare who is Nigeria’s 100/200m record holder said the athlete was provisionally suspended with immediate effect after a sample collected from the 32 year old tested positive for Human Growth Hormone.
Growth hormone is a non-specified substance on the 2021 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List and a provisional suspension is mandatory following an adverse analytical finding for such substance under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.
The AIU said it collected the sample from Okagbare during an out-of-competition test on July 19 and revealed the WADA-accredited laboratory that analysed the sample notified the AIU of the adverse analytical finding
Now, according to a Jamaican news outlet, The Gleaner, there are ongoing investigations on Okagbare by an American agency through the controversial Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act passed by the U.S. Government in December 2020.
The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act gives United States officials the power to prosecute individuals for doping schemes at international sports competitions involving American athletes.
Named after Russian whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov, it gives prosecutors the ability to seek fines of up to $1 million (N520m) and prison sentences of up to 10 years for doping conspirators at events involving US athletes, broadcasters and sponsors.
Section 4 of the legislation, in part, speaks to criminal penalties and statute of limitations under major international doping fraud conspiracies.
It says whoever violates Section 3 shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for not more than 10 years, fined $250,000 if the person is an individual or $1,000, 000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both.
The RJRGLEANER Group said when on September 18 they contacted Okagbare for a comment on the criminal investigation by the law enforcement agency, she declined.
“I don’t have anything to say to you nor anyone,” the 2013 World Championship long jump silver medallist was quoted as saying.
“With due respect, I don’t know how you got my number or who asked you to call me,” she added.
The RJRGLEANER Group also revealed when they contacted the major law enforcement agency about their involvement in the Okagbare anti-doping matter two days before reaching out to the athlete herself, they said they had “no comment”.
It should be noted that one of the hallmarks of this agency is to neither confirm nor deny involvement in cases.
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