Nigerian weightlifter in dope net, Indians have most to gain

July 29, 2014 05:11 pm | Updated April 21, 2016 10:28 pm IST - Glasgow

The Nigerian delegation participating in the 20th Commonwealth Games was left red-faced on Tuesday when it was disclosed that teenager Chika Alamaha, its first gold medal winner here, had failed a drug test.

Making the disclosure at the daily press briefing, CGF chief executive Mike Hooper said the 16-year-old women’s weightlifting 53kg category winner had been provisionally suspended from the Games.

“We have yesterday (Monday) afternoon formally issued a notice of disclosure to an athlete following an adverse analytical finding as a consequence of an in-competition doping test.

“The athlete is Nigerian Chika Alamaha who was tested on Friday (July 25) and she has now been provisionally suspended from the Games. Her A sample has revealed traces of a diuretic, which is normally used by athletes as a masking agent and for weight loss.

“The athlete has since then, in accordance with her rights, sought the testing of her B sample, which will be carried out on Wednesday at the doping laboratory in London.”

Asked about whether the medals would be re-awarded, Hooper said, “We are following the correct procedures and since the athlete has sought the testing of her B sample, any decision will be taken only if the B sample too tests positive.”

Chika had won the event with a total lift of 196kg ahead of Papua New Guinea’s Dika Toua and India’s Santoshi Matsa. If the second sample tests positive, Swati Singh, who finished fourth, stands the chance of being awarded the bronze.

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