By Monica Iheakam
Banned Nigerian sprinter Grace Nwokocha cannot not appeal her three-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Nwokocha was banned for the Presence/Use of Prohibited Substances (Ostarine and Ligandrol) in her system during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
However, she has entered into a case resolution agreement with the AIU in accordance with Rule 10.8.2 ADR.
Nwokocha and the AIU agreed to the following terms; “Nwokocha acknowledges that she has been found to have committed ADRVs under Rule 2.1 and Rule 2.2 of the CGF ADR (and the ADR) by virtue of the CGF Decision, which is final and binding upon her.
“The Nigerian agrees to be sanctioned with a period of Ineligibility of three (3) years.
“Both Parties agree that, taking into consideration the criteria in Rule 10.8.2 of the ADR, the period of Ineligibility shall commence on the date of Sample collection, i.e., 3 August 2022. Therefore, the period of Ineligibility shall be in effect until, and including, 2 August 2025. “In accordance with Rule 10.10 of the ADR and to the extent that any results are not already disqualified by operation of the CGF Decision, Nwokocha’s competitive results from 3 August 2022 until the date of the Provisional Suspension imposed by the AIU viz. 2 September 2022 are disqualified with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prize money/prizes.”
Nwokocha is the third Nigerian athlete to be banned by the AIU in recent years after Blessing Okgbare was hammered with a career ending 11-year ban for testing positive to Human Growth Hormone.
Divine Oduduru was recently handed a six-year ban after the AIU found him guilty of “committing two Anti-Doping RuleViolations (ADRVs) of Possession of Prohibited Substances and the Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance or Method.