Samuel Okon tests positive
Nigerian hurdler Samuel Okon has tested positive for banned substances at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Okon had come sixth in the 110 metre race which was won by Andy Turner of England.
As a result Okon becomes the second member of the Nigerian squad to test positive after women’s sprinter Damola Osayemi. Both athletes tested positive for methylhexaneamine a substance which has also seen in samples from several Jamaican sprinters and 11 members of the Indian team banned in the last year.
Okon has had his sixth place revoked and has been provisionally suspended. This comes only days after Osayemi tested positive after being stripped of the gold medal that she was awarded the women’s 100 metres after Sally Pearson was disqualified for a false start.
The reason for all these positive tests could be that methylhexaneamine exists in several over-the-counter medicines such as nasal decongestants. Although lists of banned substances exist it is quite hard to avoid something, particularly if the athlete is suffering from illness and so sometimes these types of drugs can be taken by accident; although ignorance is not normally a defence in such cases.
This is just the latest bad incident to come during a disastrous Commonwealth Games. Firstly a bridge collapsed, then the rooms were not up to standard, then some of the bigger-named athletes didn’t show up, including Phillips Idowu from England. Following that a roof above an arena collapsed, the swimming pools turned out to be contaminated and no-one turned up to watch.
Okon’s incident is a further blow to the Games and he can expect to receive something like a six-month ban which is what the Jamaican sprinters who were banned for the same offence earlier this year received.
Okon has the right to have a B sample analysed, but Commonwealth Games Chief Mike Fennell thinks that he may waive the right to a second test: "As far as the second athlete is concerned, we have heard that he is waving the right to have his B sample test but this has not been confirmed yet. We have to ensure all of these things are confirmed by the athlete when we have the provisional hearing later today," Fennell said.
Fennell believes that the substance probably came from something else. The Commonwealth chief said: "The athletes and coaches have been continuously warned to monitor all supplements, food and drinks. Many are misled into using the supplements and more efforts need to be made to educate the athletes on the use of supplements."
It would be a shame for Okon and Osayemi if they are banned for having taken a drug unknowingly. Whatever happens it is a disaster for Nigeria and casts a further shadow over a nightmare Games for India.
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