By Our Correspondent
The United States and other agencies have dropped ‘all charges’ against Nigerian sprinter, Blessing Okagbare, who is currently serving a 10-year ban over drugs offences.
Recall that Okagbare was provisionally suspended for testing positive for human growth hormone in July 2021, just hours before her 100m semifinals at Tokyo Olympics. She was later banned by the world anti-doping agency (WADA) for 10years.
Earlier, Okagbare was being investigated by an American agency for other sport-related misdemeanours. The U.S. Federal authorities had searched Okagbare’s cellphone on her return to the country from the Tokyo Olympics and found she had frequently communicated with a kinesiologist and naturopathic doctor, Eric Lira, who was flagged for bringing ‘misbranded’ versions of the human growth hormone drugs to the U.S. from Central and South America before distributing them to athletes.
However, media sources close to the World Athletics revealed that the United States may have dropped ‘all charges’ against Okagbare.
The source said: “What I just heard is that America has dropped all charges against Blessing Okagbare. But that does not in any way affect the 10-year ban on her”.
