Doping: Man Charged To Court For Allegedly Supplying Drugs To Blessing Okagbare

Blessing Okagbare’s hopes of being cleared of the doping allegations which led to her suspension during the Tokyo Olympics are gradually evaporating.

This follows a statement issued on Wednesday by the United States Department of Justice on its findings.

The statement revealed that a man linked with Okagbare has been charged to court for allegedly providing performance-enhancing drugs to athletes competing in last summer’s Tokyo Olympics, including Nigeria’s celebrated queen of the tracks.

Eric Lira, 41, of El Paso, is the first person to be charged under a new U.S. anti-doping law governing international sports competitions.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan said Mr Lira distributed the drugs, including human growth hormone and erythropoietin, a blood-building hormone, “for the purpose of corrupting” the 2020 Games, which were held in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Lira also is accused of conspiring to violate drug misbranding and adulteration laws.

Before now, there have been no new updates from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) since placing a provisional suspension on Okagbare for the supposed doping infractions.

Nigerians and the world at large woke up to shocking news of the suspension of Okagbare on the eve of the Women’s 100m semi-final race at the Tokyo Olympics.

While Okagbare’s compatriot, Grace Nwokocha went on to compete in one of the semi-final races but failed to make the final, it was a lesser concern for many compared to the devastating blow on the most celebrated Nigerian athlete in recent times.

-Premium Times