The Commonwealth Games was today rocked by its first doping case when Nigerian women's 100m gold medallist Osayemi Oludamola tested positive for a banned stimulant.
Only a day after Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell announced the Games have been dope-free, Nigeria’s 100m women’s champion Osayemi Oludamola failed her drug test, it was officially declared on Monday.
Oludamola has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for methylhexaneamine — a stimulant banned by World Anti Doping Agency — but she will have to wait till Wednesday morning to know whether she has been stripped of her gold.
She appeared before the Federation drugs panel on Monday afternoon to explain her drugs result. It is understood she argued that she may have inadvertently taken the drug when receiving medication for a toothache.
But the panel will not release its findings until there is confirmation of the B sample, which is expected by Wednesday morning. England sprinter Katherine Endacott may be promoted to the silver medal if Osayemi is found guilty and stripped of her medal.
It has to be noted that a spate of Indian swimmers and wrestlers and Jamaican runners have tested positive for the drug in recent times, with most given a three-month suspension. The drug increases alertness, can aid weight loss and sometimes is found in party pills as well as prescription drugs.
Oludamola’s suspension further makes the women’s 100m controversial. The race had already seen the first placed runner Sally Pearson being disqualified for a false start after a protest by the England camp, which had elevated Osayemi to the gold medal.
Fennell, who will be on the drugs hearing panel along with four other CGF officials, a legal advisor and a WADA observer, said he did not know how much damage the test result will have on the Games and the sport of track and field. “Any positive test, whether it’s in a high profile event or not, is something that is very much regretted,” said Fennell. “One does not know what sort of damage will accrue because of this particular test. We just want to let everyone know we are very vigilant.”
Fennell added that no decision had been made on whether Osayemi will be stripped of her medal, although the athlete has been provisionally suspended.
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