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According to fresh development, Nigeria's 4*100 relay gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham might get stripped off after an unnamed member of the quartet failed a doping test. Reportedly, Athletics Federation of Nigeria has been notified of the development by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the confirmation of the B sample is being awaited.
The gold medal winning team comprised of Tobi Amusan, Rosemary Chukwuma, Favour Ofili and Grace Nwokocha. As per rules, the team would be stripped of its medal and the performance if any member of the team comes with positive test report. In a conversation with Saturday PUNCH, AFN President Tonobok Okowa said that the federation had begun an investigation of the matter and would make its position known.
"We are in compete shock to hear an update from World Anti-Doping Agency. We are the risk of losing our 4*100m Commonwealth Games gold medal. We have started our investigation, but I would like to admit here is that the recent development is not a good sign for us," Okowa told Saturday PUNCH.
The President of Athletic Federation of Nigeria however denied naming the athlete and claimed that any such disclosure will be done after the conclusion of our own investigation. "I can’t disclose the identity of the athlete now because we need to confirm exactly what happened and first conclude our investigation before making a public statemen. We have informed every relevant stakeholder to be ready with their defense," added Okowa.
Speaking of Nigeria's performance at Commonwealth Games 2022, the African nation finished at seventh position in the medals tally with 12 golds, 9 silver and 14 bronze. Meanwhile, India did phenomenally well in the multi-sporting event as they secured fourth spot in the table, winning 22 gold, 16 silver and 23 bronze medals.