Nigerian athletes that have been banned for doping violations

It is often said that ‘the end justifies the means’ and this is what plays out in the minds of some athletes who go to every length to win and this includes the use of performance-enhancing drugs which is called doping.

Daily Trust goes down the memory lane to bring those Nigerian athletes who have been involved in doping violations.

Chioma Ajunwa

The first Nigerian to win gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event allegedly failed to pass a drug test in 1992 and she was eventually banned for four years from competing.

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Tosin Adeloye

She tested positive for the anabolic steroid Metenolone at the National Sports Festival in Lagos in December 2012, at the age of 16, and was subsequently banned from sports for two years. The ban ended 6 January 2015. She received a second ban for eight years after another failed test in 2016.

Folashade Abugan

The 2009 African Junior Athletics Championships gold medalist was disqualified and banned after failing drugs test and testing positive for testosterone prohormone in her ‘A’ sample.  

Mary Onyali

The first Nigerian to compete in five Olympics (1988-2004) was banned for allegedly taking ephedrine in 1996, but Onyali-Omagbemi had since denied taking such substance.

Vivian Chukwuemeka

The shot putter and two-time Olympian received a two-year ban from athletics for a failed drug test at the 2009 Nigerian Championships.

Chukwuemeka returned to competition in 2012 and failed a second drugs test – for the anabolic steroid stanozolol – shortly before the Olympic Games. Subsequently, she was given a lifetime ban from competition.

Chinazom Doris Amadi

The long jumper was stripped of her 2015 African Games gold medal after failing a drug test for methenolone. She was banned for four years, until 15 September 2019.

Chika Joy Amalaha

The weightlifter tested positive for methenolone and is banned until 2027 by the International Weightlifting Federation. She had previously failed some tests during the 2014 Commonwealth Games and was temporarily banned from continuing the Games. She was subsequently handed a two-year doping ban which ended July 25, 2016.

Innocent Asonze

The sprinter together with Francis Obikwelu, Daniel Effiong and Deji Aliu won a bronze medal in 4 x 100 metres relay at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics, but the team was later disqualified (in August 2005) because he failed a doping test in June 1999.

Olutoyin Augustus

The 100 metres hurdler at the Berlin World Championships, Augustus was subject to a blood and urine test for the WADA. Her blood sample had no documented negative findings, but her urine sample tested positive for abnormal high levels of testosterone.

Clement Chukwu

The Eastern Michigan University graduate was banned from 1992-1996 for a positive drug test.

Daniel Effiong

The 49-year-old former athlete missed the 1995 World Championships in Athletics due to a failed drug test at the Nigerian Championships, where he tested positive for methyltestosterone and ephedrine. He received a four-year ban from the sport.

Christy Ekpukhon

The sprinter was found guilty of methenolone doping. The sample was delivered on 17 February 2008 in an in-competition test in Leipzig. Ekpukhon received a suspension from March 2008 to March 2010.

Davidson and Osmond Ezinwa

Davidson tested positive for doping twice; for ephedrine in February 1996, and together with his twin brother, Osmond in 1999.

Cecilia Francis

The 100m runner tested positive for the anabolic steroid methenolone at the 2013 African Youth Athletics Championships as a 16-year-old. She was given a one-year ban from sports after she cooperated with the authorities in an investigation.

Miesinnei Mercy Genesis

Freestyle wrestler was stripped of her 2019 World Beach Games silver medal in February 2021 due to anti-doping rule violations.

Samson Idiata

Nigerian high jumper and long jumper was stripped of his gold medallist in the long jump at the 2015 African Games after failing a drug test for clenbuterol and was banned for four years, until 15 September 2019.

Ivory Nwokorie

The powerlifter who won the gold medal in the women’s 44 kg weight class at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, England was fined €1,500 and banned for two years in 2013, after testing positive for Furosemide.

Gloria Amuche Nwosu

The women’s 4 × 400 metres relay sprinter at the 2004 Summer Olympics was suspected and was found guilty for doping by the IAAF after a doping test revealed that an elevated T/E ratio was identified in her body and was banned for two years.

Deborah Oluwaseun Odeyemi

She tested positive for the anabolic steroid metenolone in a sample collected at the Nigerian Championship on 30 July 2015. Her results from the 2015 World Championships in Athletics were annulled and she was handed a four-year ban from sports.

Amaka Ogoegbunam

She tested positive for the anabolic steroid metenolone at the 2009 African Junior Athletics Championships and that same year in World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, where she also tested positive for the same steroid and was subsequently received a 3-year doping ban from sports, at the age of 19. The ban ended 30 July 2012.

Blessing Okagbare-Otegheri

Nigeria’s Queen of the tracks is currently serving a 10-year ban for breaching multiple World Athletics anti-doping rules. Her ban expires 30 July 2031. She however said her lawyers are looking into the case.

Charity Opara

A former Nigerian track and field was banned between 1992 and 1996 for a positive drug test.

Oludamola Bolanle Osayomi

She was the original winner of the 100 m at the 2010 Commonwealth Games but was stripped of her title and banned after her doping test came back positive for the stimulant methylhexanamine.

Lawretta Ozoh

The 2012 African Championships silver medalist tested positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol and was subsequently handed a two-year ban from sports.

Blessed Udoh

Female weightlifter won 3 medals in the women’s 48 kg category at the 2007 All-Africa Games but tested positive after the competition.

Nathaniel Glory Onome

She tested positive for the presence of stanozolol and its metabolites on 25 October 2018. On 2 April 2019, a hearing was held and a four (4) year ban was imposed on her.