Doping: Commonwealth Games strip Nigeria of women’s 4x100m gold

Nigeria has been stripped of their gold medal in the women’s 4x100m relay event at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The decision comes following the confirmation of doping violations against Grace Nwokocha who ran the anchor leg in the final by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

This was disclosed on the website of the Commonwealth Games Federation on Friday.

Nwokocha had earlier been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for “Presence/Use of Prohibited Substances (Ostarine & Ligandrol) (Article 2.1 and Article 2.2)”.

The statement added that England were promoted to the gold medal position, while Jamaica were upgraded to the silver medal position. Australia, who were fourth-placed were awarded the bronze medal.

All of Nwokocha’s results in the Games were also cancelled.

The statement reads: “The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) can confirm that the Commonwealth Games Federation Court has issued their decision regarding an in-competition sample provided by Ms Nwokocha, who competed in Athletics at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“Analysis of the sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for Ostarine and Dihydroxy-LGD-4033, a metabolite of Ligandrol. Both are non-Specified Substances, listed under Other Anabolic Agents in the WADA 2022 Prohibited List. 

“On 17 May 2023, The Federation Court issued a decision that Ms Nwokocha had committed the following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) under the 2022 Commonwealth Games Anti-Doping Rules (ADRs): 

• Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in the Athlete’s Sample, pursuant to Article 2.1 of the ADRs; and
• Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method, pursuant to Article 2.2 of the ADRs.

“Accordingly, the Federation Court disqualified Ms Nwokocha’s results from the following events, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any points and prizes: 

• Athletics – Women’s 100m
• Athletics – Women’s 200m
• Athletics – Women’s 4x100m Relay, including the team’s forfeiture of the gold medal

“The matter has now been passed to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to determine any further consequences under their anti-doping rules. A copy of the full decision can be found here 

“All results will be amended accordingly, including the Women’s 4x100m Relay medal placings as follows:

• England shall now be 1st place and awarded the gold medal
• Jamaica shall now be 2nd place and awarded the silver medal
• Australia shall now be 3rd place and awarded the bronze medal

“This has been communicated to the relevant Commonwealth Games Associations who are liaising with the impacted athletes.

“The CGF has a zero-tolerance policy to doping in sport. It seeks to maintain the integrity of the Commonwealth Games by running a comprehensive anti-doping programme that focuses equally on education, prevention and testing.”