Failed Drug Test: Nigerians Express Shock, Sadness Over Blessing Okagbare’s Suspension From Tokyo Olympics

By Florence Cornelius Last updated Jul 31, 2021

Many Nigerians have expressed shock and sadness over the suspension of one of Nigeria’s top athlete, Blessing Okagbare from 2020 Tokyo Olympics for failing a drug test.

Athletics Integrity Unit, a unit of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) founded in April 2017 to combat doping in the sport of athletics, announced her ‘provisional’ suspension in a press statement on Saturday.

AIU stated that the 32-year-old Nigerian athlete tested positive for a banned substance – human growth hormone – just before participating in the semifinals of 100m race.

Growth hormone (GH) is a small protein that is made by the pituitary gland and secreted into the bloodstream. GH production is controlled by a complex set of hormones produced in the hypothalamus of the brain and in the intestinal tract and pancreas.

Throughout life, growth hormone regulates the fat, muscle, tissue and bone in our bodies, and other aspects of our metabolism such as insulin action and blood sugar levels. Growth hormone levels naturally reduce from middle age onwards.

Okagbare, who is the reigning Nigerian record holder in both the 100m and 200m, qualified for the semi finals by finishing first in her heat in 11.05 seconds.

Unfortunately, she is now out of the Games where many Nigerians expected her to bring home a gold medal.

Taking to their various Twitter handles, many Nigerians expressed shock at her failed drug test, while some called for a second test, saying she has an over 15-year record without failing a drug test.

See some reactions below;

Something about this blessing okagbare’s suspension isn’t sitting well with me, they should just run the test again abeg.

— Duke of Ibadan 🀄️ (@_AsiwajuLerry) July 31, 2021

Test Blessing Okagbare again. Bring our own doctors to test her too.

— Leo Dasilva (@SirLeoBDasilva) July 31, 2021

Nigeria’s only hope of being in the 100m women final dashed. I honestly cannot understand how Blessing Okagbare will do this at what could be her last #Olympics. Sad sad sad.

— Moji Sensei Delano (@MojiDelanoBlog) July 31, 2021

Blessing Okagbare’s clean record for almost 15 years earns her the benefit of doubt with me. Till proven otherwise, I’d put her positive test down to a mistake on her part. Nothing in her entire suggests she will deliberately dope.

— Babanla (@biolakazeem) July 31, 2021

JUST IN: Nigeria’s medal hopeful, Blessing Okagbare, failed her drug test. She tested positive for the Human Growth Hormone. She’s been evicted from the Tokyo #Olympics

Just when you thought it can’t get any worse, another misfortune strikes. Another sad day for Team Nigeria.

— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) July 31, 2021

Oh no Blessing Okagbare, this is really sad 🤦🏾‍♂️

— Dr. Dípò Awójídé, FHEA (@OgbeniDipo) July 31, 2021

The only athlete way we dey manage say we go get hope for a medal, AIU don suspend her… E no go o!

— Bold&Cute (@BoldCute1) July 31, 2021

When it rains it pours. The country needs a reboot in everything. This nation is under judgment.

— Nils (@talk_akan) July 31, 2021

They kicked her out cos she spoke up! … banned substance like what?

— Juju Forest 🌳🌳 (@Jujuforest1) July 31, 2021

They had better retest again, maybe it’s a mixup. Meanwhile, Russia that sponsored state wide doping is competing as ROC. 🤦🏽‍♀️

— temi✨ 🕯 (@temitopewright) July 31, 2021

Woke up to watch the live #athletics session this morning especially the women’s 100m semi finals. But mehnnnn this Blessing Okagbare news broke my heart. Going back to bed. I will watch the reruns.💔😔#Olympics

— Moji Sensei Delano (@MojiDelanoBlog) July 31, 2021

This Tokyo Olympics has been a disaster after disaster for Nigeria. Blessing Okagbare suspended for doping after winning her heat comfortably, now male basketball team knocked out in the group stage. Two major hopefuls crashes

— J.O.S.H.M.A.N™️🔜🔛🔝 (@nemJreso) July 31, 2021

Like someone rightly tweeted; Blessing Okagbare gets the benefit of doubt because of her long years of dependability. It doesn’t mean I support her allegedly using a banned substance, no. It just means I’ll give her a pass if it’s true. She don try for us.

Sad.

— Temisan Okomi (@temiokomi) July 31, 2021

This Blessing Okagbare news hit me hard, but I’m still waiting for her own side of story.

She has been a professional athlete for over 15 years with a proven clean record to back that career up.

Waiting for her side of story. #BBNajia #BBNaijaShineYaEye #BBNaijaSeason6 #BBNaija

— #BBNaija #BBNaija2021 (@gyonlineng) July 31, 2021

Blessing Okagbare failed her doping test!
😌I was really looking forward to watch her race by 5pm today ☹️

But so many questions exist to be answered by the AIU. pic.twitter.com/6ZWgKvnNPI

— #BBNAIJA WHITE MONEY STAN 💴💴EZE_IMO©️👑 (@AkiMarlin) July 31, 2021

Blessing Okagbare. Human Growth Hormone.
It’s a very popular PED that helps athletes maintain their youth, mostly performance wise, but it does also help slow down ageing generally.

A lot of actors use it as well so as to maintain their youth and extend their careers.

— . (@Daywale) July 31, 2021

“Blessing Okagbare” suspended by AIU over failed drug test, in my opinion I think another test should be done, she needs to be given a benefit of doubt, our only hope of winning a medal as an athlete. pic.twitter.com/nUvpiEgFnM

— Yeancah 💡+ ❤️ (@Yeancah_Jimoh) July 31, 2021

Quite surprised that Blessing Okagbare could test positive for doping at the #Olympics very surprising indeed, because she’s so fast. I hope she will be tested again.

She’s the only hope we have of bringing any medals home.

— David Onyemaizu🦍 (@SirDavidBent) July 31, 2021