The Commonwealth Games Federation has stripped Nigeria of the gold medal won in the women’s 4x100m at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Nigeria was stripped of the gold medal after investigations on the positive doping result returned by Grace Nwokocha who was part of the quartet.
Nwokocha was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit after her sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for Ostarine and Dihydroxy-LGD-4033, a metabolite of Ligandrol. Both are non-Specified Substances, listed under Other Anabolic Agents in the WADA 2022 Prohibited List.
Grace Nwokocha had ran the anchor leg at the Alexander Stadium, fending off opposition from England’s Daryll Neita and Jamaica Elaine Thompson-Herah to claim the gold medal in an African Record time of 42.10secs.
Others in the quartet who won gold are Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili and Rosemary Chukwuma.
The statement published on the Games website said, Federation Court disqualified Grace Nwokocha results from the women’s 100m, women’s 200m, women’s 4x100m with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any points and prizes.
With the withdrawal of Nigeria’s medal, England were promoted to first position, Jamaica second, while Australia were promoted to third.
The statement read, “The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) can confirm that the Commonwealth Games Federation Court has issued their decision regarding an in-competition sample provided by Ms Nwokocha, who competed in Athletics at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“Analysis of the sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for Ostarine and Dihydroxy-LGD-4033, a metabolite of Ligandrol. Both are non-Specified Substances, listed under Other Anabolic Agents in the WADA 2022 Prohibited List.
“On 17 May 2023, The Federation Court issued a decision that Ms Nwokocha had committed the following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) under the 2022 Commonwealth Games Anti-Doping Rules (ADRs):
- Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in the Athlete’s Sample, pursuant to Article 2.1 of the ADRs; and
- Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method, pursuant to Article 2.2 of the ADRs.
“Accordingly, the Federation Court disqualified Ms Nwokocha’s results from the following events, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any points and prizes:
- Athletics – Women’s 100m
- Athletics – Women’s 200m
- Athletics – Women’s 4x100m Relay, including the team’s forfeiture of the gold medal
“The matter has now been passed to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to determine any further consequences under their anti-doping rules.
“All results will be amended accordingly, including the Women’s 4x100m Relay medal placings as follows:
- England shall now be 1st place and awarded the gold medal
- Jamaica shall now be 2nd place and awarded the silver medal
- Australia shall now be 3rd place and awarded the bronze medal
“This has been communicated to the relevant Commonwealth Games Associations who are liaising with the impacted athletes.
“The CGF has a zero-tolerance policy to doping in sport. It seeks to maintain the integrity of the Commonwealth Games by running a comprehensive anti-doping programme that focuses equally on education, prevention and testing.”
Read the full judgement HERE
