A major United States law enforcement agency is pursuing the anti-doping case involving provisionally suspended Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare.
The investigations according to RJRGLEANER Group fall under the controversial Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, passed by the United States Government in December 2020.
This development comes just over a month after Okagbare was barred from contesting the 100m semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics having been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit on July 31.
She was suspended for using the banned drug Human Growth Hormone.
Under the World Anti-Doping Agency rules, the use of HGH, an anabolic steroid, carries a maximum four-year ban for first-time offenders.
It grants extraterritorial jurisdiction under major international doping fraud conspiracies.
While the Act provides the legal framework for the prosecution of individuals involved in doping schemes at international sports competitions involving American athletes, broadcasters and sponsors, under the law, criminal prosecution cannot be brought against athletes, who test positive for performance-enhancing substances.
The Athletics Integrity Unit would not be drawn into providing any update on the case of the 32-year-old sprinter.
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