Olympics: Nigerian boxer, Ogunsemilore, fails dope test

Nigerian lightweight boxer, Cynthia Ogunsemilore, has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance on Saturday ahead of her opening fight at the Paris Olympics.

The International Testing Agency said on Saturday that the 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and African Games champion tested positive for furosemide, a diuretic on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list, in an out-of-competition doping control collected on Thursday.

“The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter in line with the World Anti-Doping Code and the International Olympic Committee Anti-Doping Rules,” the ITA said on their website.

The suspension means Ogunsemilore is barred from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity during the Paris 2024 Olympics.

She had been scheduled to face Taiwan’s Wu Shih Yi in a round-of-16 bout on Tuesday.

The ITA stated that Ogunsemilore has the right to challenge the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport – Anti-Doping Division and request an analysis of her B-sample.

The development has further depleted Nigeria’s boxing team, leaving only Adam Olaore as the sole medal hopeful for the nation in the ring.

Dolapo Omole, the third Nigerian who qualified for the Olympics in boxing, also had to withdraw days before the Games due to injury.

Olaore will face Aibeck Oralbay of Kazakhstan on Sunday (today) at 10:48 am in the first preliminary round as he begins his quest for medals.

Boxing has historically been one of Nigeria’s strongest Olympic sports, but the country has seen declining fortunes in recent editions. Nigeria last won a medal in boxing at the Atlanta 96 Olympics.