Tobi Amusan: 6 Nigerian athletes who have been suspended for alleged doping violations

Tobi Amusan: 6 Nigerian athletes who have been suspended for alleged doping violations

Stephen Oladehinde 12:25 - 20.07.2023

In previous years, several Nigerian athletes have received suspension from participating in any athletics tournament due to doping violations.

The recent case of a suspended Nigerian athlete was that of Tobi Amusan after she failed to appear for a drug test.

The result of missing a drug test has led to her suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit which would keep her away from any track and field competition till a final decision is made.

Tobi Amusan who has been one of Nigeria's best athletes this year broke several records in the 100-metre hurdle race a few months ago.

With the Nigerian athlete on suspension, we take a look at previous athletes who have been suspended for doping violations.

Nigerian athletes suspended for doping

1. Chioma Ajunwa

Ajunwa was a Nigerian athlete that competed in track and field events and focused on the 100m, 200m and long jump.

At Atlanta 1996, Ajunwa became the first woman from West Africa and the first Nigerian to win an Olympic gold medal.

Ajunwa failed a drug test in 1992, which resulted in a four-year athletics ban and kept her away from participating in any athletics tournament.

Chioma Ajunwa, a Nigerian athlete
Chioma Ajunwa, a Nigerian athlete

2. Mary Onyali

Mary Onyali is a former Nigerian sprinter who appeared five times in Olympic tournaments from 1988 - 2004. 

At the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, she earned bronze medals in the 200m and the 4⨉100m relay, respectively.

In 1996, Mary was banned from athletics for reportedly taking ephedrine which she has denied to date.

Mary Onyali, a bronze medals
Mary Onyali, a bronze medals

3. Cecilia Francis

Nigerian sprinter Cecilia Francis excels in the track and field event, participating in 100m, 200m, and 4 x 100-meter relay.

At the 2015 All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo, Cecilia won gold in the 4 x 100-meter relay alongside Blessing Okagbare, Lawretta Ozoh, and Ngozi Onwumere.

As a 16-year-old at the 2013 African Youth Athletics Championships, Francis tested positive for the anabolic steroid methenolone.

She was barred from participating in sports for a year after helping the police with their inquiry.

Her coach Abass Rauf received a lifetime ban from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, while Lee Evans received a four-year suspension.

4. Blessing Okagbare

Former Nigerian track and field athlete Blessing Okagbare is a specialist in the long jump and sprints.

The women's 100-meter Commonwealth Games record belongs to Okagbare, who ran it in 10.85 seconds.

She won medals in the long jump at the Olympic and World Championships, and she also won a world medal in the 200 meters.

On July 31, 2021, during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Okagbare failed a drug test and was thus suspended.

She was given a 10-year athletics ban which started on 30 July 2021 as a result of many violations of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Code.

Blessing Okagbare won a world medal in the 200 meters
Blessing Okagbare won a world medal in the 200 meters

5. Charity Opara

Ex-Nigerian athlete Charity Opara was well-known as a specialist in the 400-meter event.

She excelled in relay competition, taking home the silver medal representing Nigeria at the 1996 Olympics.

Opara was banned from participating in any athletics event between 1992 and 1996 after testing positive in a drug test.

Charity Opara, former Nigerian track and field athlete
Charity Opara, former Nigerian track and field athlete

6. Tosin Adeloye

Nigerian sprinter Tosin Adeloye competed in the 400-meter race at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China.

Adeloye tested positive for the anabolic steroid Methenolone at the National Sports Festival in Lagos in December 2012, at the age of 16,

She was subsequently banned from participating in any athletics event for two years and with her ban ending on 6 January 2015.

Tosin later failed another drug test again in 2016 which led to her second ban and was given eight years away from any athletics tournament.

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