It is always a thing of shock for the Nigerian Sports Community whenever a Nigerian athlete is disqualified for doping activities in international events, the scandal has always left a lasting impact on their careers.
One of the most recent cases is that of Cynthia Temitayo Ogunsemilore, a Nigerian female boxer who was to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics and has been provisionally suspended after testing positive to an illegal drug.
Ogunsemilore, who was considered a medal hopeful and currently a 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and African Games champion tested positive for furosemide. She has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter in line with the World Anti-Doping Code and the International Olympic Committee Anti-Doping Rules. If found guilty, Ogunsemilore’s career could be severely impacted. She could face a ban for a couple of years, which would mean missing out on the opportunity to compete in future Olympics and international events.
The Nigerian sports community has been left reeling from the doping scandal, with many calling for greater investment in anti-doping measures and a renewed focus on clean sport. Ogunsemilore’s case is just the latest in a string of doping scandals involving Nigerian athletes.
In 2013, Blessing Okagbare, a sprinter, was banned for 10 years for doping. Okagbare, who won a silver medal at the 2013 World Championships, was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs and was subsequently stripped of her medals and prizes.
Another athlete, Tosin Oke, a triple jumper, was also banned for four years for doping. Oke, who competed at the 2012 Olympics, was found to have used a banned substance and was disqualified from competition.
We also had Divine Oduduru who was a sprinter who competed in the Tokyo Olympics. He was banned for six years for committing two doping violations. Tosin Adeloye, a former African junior 400m champion, was banned for eight years for testing positive for the anabolic steroid methenolone twice.
Vivian Chukwuemeka, a shot putter who holds the Nigerian and African records in the event. She was banned for life for testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol twice. She was first banned for two years in 2009, and then again in 2012. She also competed in four Olympic Games from 2000 to 2012.
Chika Joy Amalaha, a weightlifter who tested positive for methenolone is banned until 2027 by the International Weightlifting Federation. She had previously failed some tests during the 2014 Commonwealth Games and was temporarily banned from continuing the Games.
Chioma Ajunwa, a renowned Nigerian track and field athlete, made history at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics by becoming the first West African woman to win a gold medal. Her 24 achievements in the 100m, 200m, and long jump events are notable. However, her career was marred by a doping scandal in 1992, which led to a four-year ban from athletics, preventing her from participating in any tournaments during that period.
Some Other Nigerian athletes who have been caught up in the doping scandal include Samuel Okon, a weightlifter who was banned for four years for doping at the 2019 African Games, Chika Amalaha, a weightlifter who was stripped of her gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games after testing positive for doping, and Paul Kehinde, a powerlifter who was banned for four years for doping at the 2019 World Championships.
The doping scandal has had a devastating impact on the athletes’ careers. Okagbare, who was once considered one of Nigeria’s top athletes, has seen her career come to an abrupt end. She has been stripped of her medals and prizes, and her reputation has been irreparably damaged.
Oke, who was also a promising athlete, has seen his career cut short. He has been banned from competition for four years, which means he will miss out on the opportunity to compete in the Olympics and World Championships.
If Ogunsemilore is found guilty, she could face a similar fate. Her career could be over, and her reputation could be irreparably damaged.
There is a need for the Nigerian government to launch investigations into doping in sports, and the Nigerian sports federation should take steps to prevent doping, including the introduction of regular drug testing for athletes.
However, many Nigerians are calling for more to be done to prevent doping in Nigerian sports and also to educate athletes always about the dangers of doping. There is also the need to increase funding for anti-doping measures and ensure that our athletes are competing clean.
The fate of Cynthia Temitayo Ogunsemilore and other Nigerian athletes caught up in the doping scandal remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear: doping has no place in sports, and those who engage in it usually face its consequences.
