Nigerian female athlete tests positive for banned substance at Commonwealth Games
The commonwealth games in Delhi started just over a week ago after a series of controversies and even as the games near an end there is no ending to the furore surrounding the games.
The games on field are providing much excitement to the crowds and fans all over but the controversies just don’t seem to end.
The games are just only 8 days old with another six to go and Australia have already established an unassailable lead at the top of the table with a tally of 137 medals including 61 golds.
The second place on the table is currently being occupied by the hosts India with 75 medals that include 29 golds but the hosts face stiff competition from England who is hot on their heels with 105 medals and 26 golds.
But the news today is rather dampening from Delhi as the Commonwealth Games 100m gold winner female athlete Damola Osayemi of Nigeria has been tested positive for a banned substance.
Although the medal has not been stripped off as yet but it is pending a B sample test on the request of the athlete.
Mike Finnel, the president of the Commonwealth Games Federation has confirmed that if the B sample also tests positive the athlete will be stripped of her medal and face severe consequences.
The 24- year-old Damola Osayemi was crowned champion in the 100m sprint in controversial circumstances on Thursday when Australian Sally Pearson was disqualified from the race after a false start.
The failed drug test is the first negative at the Games in Delhi.
The sprinter’s urine was tested positive with trace of a banned substance known as methylhexaneamine, which was only recently added to the WADA’s list of banned substances.
If the B sample is also tested positive England’s Katherine Endacott will be promoted to a silver medal as she finished behind Pearson and the Nigerian athlete but Sally was disqualified and now Osayemi is also on the verge of being stripped off her medal.
At the moment no decision has been finalized and is pending a hearing on Thursday.
The silver medallist in the race was Natasha Mayers from St Vincent and the Grenadines and if she was to be promoted to a gold she will become her country’s first ever athlete to have ever won a gold at the Commonwealth Games.
The situation for Damola Osayemi is very dire as her punishment can vary from just a warning to a two year ban.
The president of the Commonwealth Games Federation at the daily news conference said that “ "Any positive test - whether in a high-profile event or not - is something that is very much regretted because we all strive for a clean Games, clean sport and clean
competition. One doesn't know what sort of damage will accrue but we want to let everyone know we are very vigilant and the testing is of the highest standard."
On the issue of news being released before the testing of B Sample Finnel said that it was difficult to keep the matter as a secret keeping in view the efficiency of the media these days.
While on the issue of punishing the cheating athletes the general secretary of the organizing committee, Lalit Bhanot said that is imperative that the games are kept clean and action will be taken against anybody who is caught violating the rules of the
sport and such transparent is the process that no one can escape.
The Nigerian athlete has tested positive for the same durg that the host nation’s swimmers Richa Mishra and Jyotsana Pansare and weight lifter Sanamacha Chanu were found guilty of having in their system back in September.
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