The Athletics Integrity Unit on Thursday said it has charged Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare after she tested positive for human growth hormone and recombinant erythropoietin (EPO).
Okagbare was forced out of Tokyo Olympics after result of the test was announced.
“The athlete has been charged with the presence and use of a prohibited substance following of Human Growth Hormone in a sample collected out-of-competition on 19th July in Slovakia and reported to the AIU on 30th July,” the AIU said in a statement.
The Olympic and World Championships medalist has now been hit with three separate anti-doping charges.
Okagbare had competed in the 100m heats in Tokyo on July 31 and was due to run in the semi-final before being suspended.
One of the charges was issued over Okagbare’s “refusal to co-operate with the AIU’s investigation into her case.”
According to the AIU, Okagbare insists she is innocent of the allegations and has requested that the charges be submitted to a hearing before a disciplinary tribunal.
