Nigeria women’s 4x100m Relay stripped of their gold medal

Following the Commonwealth Games Federation Court ruling, Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay team at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has been stripped of their gold medal because of the disqualification of Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha. Nwokocha was found guilty of doping by the court. As a result, England has been promoted to first place, with Jamaica and Australia following closely behind.

Nwokocha, who ran the anchor leg, helped Nigeria cross the finish line 0.21 seconds ahead of England in an exhilarating race at Alexander Stadium on August 7. Their remarkable performance set a new African record of 42.10s.

In the following month, Nwokocha was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for using banned anabolic steroids called ostarine and ligandrol, as confirmed by a sample taken at Birmingham in 2022. Both ostarine and ligandrol are non-Specified Substances listed by name under section S1.2 (Other Anabolic Agents) in the WADA 2022 Prohibited List.

During the May hearing at the Commonwealth Games Federation Court, Nwokocha’s claim that a fellow member of the Nigerian team had consumed from her bottle of Lucozade, leading to the adverse analytical finding (AAF), was rejected. Her lawyer explained that she might have been a victim of drink contamination during practice sessions on the track at the athletes’ village.

On May 17, 2023, Birmingham 2022 announced the decision of the Federation Court, which stated that Nwokocha had committed the following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) under the 2022 Commonwealth Games Anti-Doping Rules (ADRs): Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in the Athlete’s Sample, according to Article 2.1 of the ADRs, and Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method, according to Article 2.2 of the ADRs.

The Federation Court disqualified Nwokocha’s results from the women’s 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay, along with all associated consequences, including the forfeiture of any points and prizes.
Birmingham 2022 stated the matter had been referred to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to determine any further consequences under their anti-doping rules.

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Source: Omanghana.com