Commonwealth Games 2010: Osayomi stripped of her gold medal
Sally Pearson, the Australian hurdle specialist was disqualified from the women’s 100 metre event after the officials of the Team England launched a protest against her on grounds of a false start. After four hours of intense argument, Sally was stripped
of the gold medal that she apparently won. She was left in tears, when the player was informed about her disqualification at the medal ceremony. The second place finisher, Nigerian athlete Osayomi Oludamola was then elevated to the first position and awarded
the gold medal. As a result Natasha Mayers of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became the silver medallist, while Katherine Endacott of England became the bronze medallist of the event.
However, Osayomi was provisionally disqualified when her A-sample was tested positive for methylhexaneamine, the banned stimulant used for a number of different purposes. Her B-sample tests were awaited by the anti-doping officials in New Delhi to make a
final decision about her stripping of the gold medal. Unfortunately, Osayomi was tested positive on Tuesday for the chemical and thus has been stripped of her gold medal. Samuel Okon, another Nigerian athlete has also been disqualified due to the consumption
of the same stimulant. He was the sixth place finisher in the 110 metres hurdle event.
As for the women’s 100 metre event, the gold medal now belongs to Natasha Mayer; meanwhile the silver medal has been awarded to Katherine Endacott. Bertille Delphine Atangana of Cameron bagged the bronze medal after the disqualification of the two athletes.
The president of the Commonwealth Games federation, Mike Fennell announced the disqualification of the two athletes. He said, “We have now conducted 1200 tests and I have to report a second doping violation. Nigerian 110 metres hurdler Samuel Okon has tested
positive for the same substance (as Oludamola).”
Fennel announced that the provisional hearing will be held later on. When the spokesman of the Nigerian Olympic Association was approached, he told the correspondents that their athletes, especially Osayomi, do not have a reputation of doping. He added that
they have been tested positive for any banned chemical. Moreover, he blamed the supplements consumed by Osayomi for containing methylhexaneamine.
Fennel also confessed that the athletes might have consumed the chemical unintentionally through the supplements and the industry should be monitored by authorities since they pose a threat to the local public as well as the athletes.
Methylhexaneamine is a stimulant which is consumed by people to delay fatigue and increase awareness. It is a derivative of germanium and oil and was added to the banned list of chemicals by the World Anti-doping Agency earlier this year.
Other athletes at the Commonwealth Games, New Delhi, have become extra cautious after the disqualification of the two Nigerian athletes. Two shooters of Team India, Hariom Singh and Kavitha Yadav avoided heavy medication even though they were unwell.
Hariom said, “I have been suffering from fever since past four days, hence I could not shoot well. I took some light medicines, but it did not help”.
In the 50 metres rifle pairs shooting event on Tuesday, Hariom was paired with Gagan Narang of India. The duo was unable to bag a medal because of Hariom’s ill health. Gagan Narang is India’s top shooter.
On the other hand, Kavitha could also not perform to her best due to her illness in the 10 metres air rifle pairs event. She was paired with Suma Shirur. The duo did however manage to bag a bronze medal.
Meanwhile, Indian shooters won four medals, 2 silver and 2 gold in the shooting event at the Karmi Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi. The Indian athletes thus set a Games record on Tuesday. The gold medals were won by Heena Sidhu and Annu Raj Singh in the
women’s 10 metres air pistol pairs event, while Samresh Jung and Chandrasekhar bagged the silver medal in the 25 metres standard pistol pairs event.
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