Osayemi Oludamola, winner of the Commonwealth Games women’s 100m final, could be stripped of her gold medal after the Nigerian athlete tested positive for a banned stimulant, say officials.
The 24-year-old has been temporarily suspended after failing a dope test. She tested positive for Methylhexaneamine – a drug that increases the body’s metabolic rate and stimulates the central nervous system.
The Commonwealth Games sprinter attended a provisional hearing this afternoon, where it was decided that she would be suspended, pending the outcome of a dope test on Wednesday morning.
The president of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), Mike Fennell, who chaired the meeting, confirmed that the Nigerian sprinter had tested positive for the banned substance. But he said she would retain her gold medal until the results of her B sample test were confirmed.
He added: “We don’t know what damage this will cause the Games but I want to assure everyone that we are being vigilant with our testing.”
The general secretary of the Commonwealth Games’ organising committee, Lalit Bhanot added that drugs cheats had no escape. He said: “We want a dope-free Games. If somebody is caught, action will be taken.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency, which regulates drug testing, recently reclassified Methylhexaneamine. Athletes who test positive can now have their punishment reduced if they can prove they did not intend to enhance their performance. The punishment can range from a warning to a two-year ban.
The president of Nigeria’s Athletic Federation, Soloman Ogba, has reportedly claimed that Miss Oludamola was given prescription medicine to fight a nagging toothache.
He said: “She took medication for her toothache and we strongly suspect that it was that, which led to her failed drugs test.”
A number of Indian and Jamaican athletes were suspended for using Methylhexaneamine over recent months, including Indian weightlifter Sanamacha Chanu and swimmers Richa Mishra and Jyotsana Pansare. They have appealed against the suspensions and are awaiting for the outcome.
If the Nigerian sprinter is stripped of her Commonwealth Games victory on Wednesday the gold medal will be given to Natasha Mayers of St Vincent and the Grenadines. It would be the Caribbean country’s second ever Commonwealth gold.
England’s Katherine Endacott would be promoted to silver if the Nigerian is disqualified.
Words: Adam Edwards
