After months of worry and uncertainty, Blessing Okagbare on Friday became the sixth Nigerian player on the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) ban.
Although he was a first-time offender, Okagbare was given 10 years suspended for multiple doping charges and refusal to co-operate with investigators, thus denying the IAU the potential for other failed athletes.
The GLOBAL INELIGIBILITY LIST received by PREMIUM TIMES over the weekend revealed that there are five other Nigerian athletes struggling in various terms and two of them have been sentenced to life in prison.
This excludes many other Nigerians, including Chioma Ajunwa, Mary Onyali and many others who have worked their way through the blockade at various times.
It is also worth noting that there are a few other Nigerian athletes on the operating list, but since then they have changed their nationality and their crimes have been committed while representing their host countries.
Here are five other Nigerians serving with various doping restrictions.
ADELOYE Coughing [Photo: Complete Sports]
NAME: ADELOYE Tosin
Date of birth: 07/02/1996
Adeloye was tested for the anabolic steroid Methenolone at the National Sports Festival in Lagos in December 2012, at the age of 16, and was banned from sports for two years. The ban expired on January 6, 2015.
Although one would have thought that an athlete born in Ekiti State and a one-time African 400m junior champion would learn his lessons, he was caught second; using exogenous steroids.
His second trial saw his bag in the eight-year suspension that began in July 2015 and would end on 7/23/2023.
Adeloye represented the Nigerian team at the XI African Games (AG) in Brazzaville, Congo, and was part of a quartet that won a gold medal in the women's 4x400m relay.
NAME: AZIKE Henry
Date of birth: 01/07/1989
The lesser-known athlete was given a lifelong ban after being tested for NR-AAF-Methenolone for the second time.
His day of violation was December 5, 2012
CHUKWUEMEKA, Vivian [PHOTO: Complete sports]
NAME: CHUKUEMEKA, Vivian
Date of birth: 05/04/1975
Before being sentenced to life imprisonment, Chukwuemeka had to shoot and put what Blessing Okagbare was in the race. He surpassed most of his contemporaries, especially at home and that is why he holds Nigerian and African records for this event.
His 18.43m mark set 20 years ago has never been equal to anyone on the continent.
However, it seems that Chukwuemeka's unique performance may have been mixed with certain performance enhancing drugs.
Although he fought hard during his two-year suspension after failing a drug test at the Nigerian Championships in 2009, there was no turning back when he again failed a second drug test, the anabolic steroid Stanozolol, just before the game. Olympic Games. Games in London. Thereafter, he was barred from entering the race for life.
Among other "achievements", Chukwuemeka has won six gold medals combined in both the African Games and the Africa Cup of Nations.
NATHANIEL, Gloria Onome NAME: NATHANIEL, Gloria Onome
Date of birth 01/23/1996
Specializing in the 400m hurdles event, the 26-year-old represented Nigeria in various competitions; including the 2017 World Championships, where they reached the semi-finals.
In addition, he won three silver medals at the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games.
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