Top officials at Nigeria’s ministry of sports have expressed shock over news that London 2012 Paralympics powerlifting gold medal winner, Esther Oyema has been banned by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for failing a doping test, megasportsarena.com has learnt.
The development was disclosed on the website of World Anti-doping Agency (WADA), which disclosed that Onyema returned positive test for a prohibited substance from a urine sample that was obtained from her on January 28, shortly after she participated at the International Para Powerlifting Competition in Lagos.
It was disclosed that 19-norandrosterone which is included on WADA 2019 Prohibited List under the class S1.1B Endogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) as Metabolites and isomers was discovered in her urine sample.
Oyema, who won the gold at London 2012 in the women’s 48kg category, is now ineligible for any competition for four years from May 3, 2019 to May 2, 2023, thus missing the opportunity of participating at the postponed 2020 Olympics Games in Tokyo, Japan next year July.
She has also been stripped of the gold medal she won in the women’s up to 55kg competition in Lagos, alongside any points and prizes she garnered at the same event, which was of a much lower level than other contests she has been engaged n but was never found wanting in doping.
WADA stated: “As a result of her violation, Oyema will be ineligible for competition for four years from 3 May 2019 to 2 May 2023. She has also been stripped of the gold medal which she won in the women’s up to 55kg competition in Lagos, together with any points and prizes.
“The substance was 19-norandrosterone. This is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2019 Prohibited List under the class S1.1B Endogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) and their Metabolites and isomers.
“Each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in his or her sample. An ADRV occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in his or her bodily specimen, whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.”
