CWG athletics: Nigerian sprint winner fails dope test

NEW DELHI - Nigeria’s athlete Osayemi Oludamola, who won the 100 metres women’s sprint, has become the first competitor in the Commonwealth Games to flunk the dope test, a top official confirmed Monday.

“Unfortunately I have to report we have had a positive result. This result was in relation to the winner of the 100 metres Womens final, from Nigeria, Osayemi Oludamola, Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennel told mediapersons here.

Fennel said Oludamola’s A sample had tested positive for a stimulant methylhexaneamine and suspended provisionally. A hearing will be held later Monday.

It was a stroke of luck that had handed the gold to the Nigerian Thursday.

Australia’s Sally Pearson, who was earlier declared the winner, got disqualified for false start, following a protest from England, and the gold was given to Osayemi Oludamola with a timing of 11.32 seconds.

Fennel said Oludamola has been notified in accordance with anti-doping standards. A hearing will be held later today.

Asked whether a positive dope test in the showpiece 100m sprint has damaged the Games’ reputaiton, Fennel said: Any positive test, whether high-profile or not, is very much regretted because we all strive for clean sport and clean competition.

We dont know what damage will accrue but we want to let people know we are very vigilant and laboratory testing is of the very highest standard, he added.