Nigerian sports officials had their Paris 2024 Olympics aspirations jolted when female boxer Cynthia Ogunsemilore failed a dope test and was placed on provisional suspension by the International Testing Agency Sunday.
Ogunsemilore, who was due to start her campaign in the lightweight contest Tuesday, tested positive for furosemide, a diuretic on World Anti-Doping Agency ’s prohibited list. Her sample was collected during an out-of-competition doping test last 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 in a statement.
“The athlete has the right to challenge the imposition of the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport – Anti-Doping Division. The athlete also has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.”
The Commonwealth Games bronze medalist and African Games champion was due to take on Taiwan’s Wu Shih Yi in a round of 16 bouts on Tuesday. With her suspension Ogunsemilore is barred from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity, during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
