Nigerian sprinter first Games doping case
NEW DELHI, India (AP) — After a host of self-induced problems that brought bad publicity for India’s Commonwealth Games organisers, a new one surfaced yesterday that was completely out of their control: a positive drug test.
In what has become almost inevitable at multi-sports events, Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell announced the first doping case of the New Delhi Games, saying Osayomi Oludamola of Nigeria tested positive for the banned stimulant Methylexanemine and could be stripped of her gold medal in the 100 metres.
The New Delhi event has been plagued by problems with ticketing, near-empty stadiums, construction delays and filthy conditions in the athletes’ village before the games began.
More than 900 doping tests have been conducted since the games open October 3, Fennell said, and so far Oludamola had returned the only positive.
Fennell said Oludamola has been notified of the adverse finding and had requested the testing of the “B” sample.
A Federal Court hearing involving Fennell, lawyers and World Anti-Doping Agency observers later ruled that the provisional suspension would continue until the “B” sample results are received, which would be tomorrow at the earliest in New Delhi, the CGF said in a statement.
“If the allegations are true it’s most unfortunate for us,” Nigeria’s chef de mission Elias Gora told The Associated Press. “I’m disappointed and I’m sure people back home will also be disappointed, too.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency recently loosened the classification of Methylexanemine for next year to the “specified stimulant” list, which covers drugs that are more susceptible to inadvertent use and can carry reduced penalties.
The eighth of 11 competition days yesterday included 14 gold medal events, the semi-finals in boxing and the first day of the rugby sevens tournament at Delhi University, where Kenya caused the biggest upset result with a last-minute 12-10 win over world champions Samoa in the last preliminary match.
Olympic silver medallist Sally Pearson won the 100-metre hurdles and Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker added yet another to his collection.
Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands won the women’s 200, which had been scheduled for Sunday but was postponed because the Cypriot team protested the disqualification of sprinter Eleni Artymata. The appeal was denied Sunday night and Artymata did not race yesterday.
India swept the medals in the women’s discus, with Krishna Poonia winning at 61.51 metres. She was the first Indian woman ever to win a gold medal in athletics at the Commonwealth Games.
Richard Mateelong led a Kenyan sweep in the steeplechase, holding off world champion Ezekiel Kemboi and Olympic champion Brimin Kiprop Kipruto, while Nancy Jebet Langat added the 800 title to her 1,500 gold.
Moses Ndiema Kiosiro of Uganda also completed a double, surging at the bell and holding off a trio of Kenyans to add the 10,000 title to his 5,000 gold.