The Nigerian gold medallist Chika Amalaha has been provisionally suspended from the Commonwealth Games after an in-competition drugs test resulted in an anti-doping violation, the Commonwealth Games Federation has announced.
The 16-year-old Amalaha provided an A sample on 25 July – shortly after winning the women’s 53kg category – which revealed traces of diuretics and masking agents. Amalaha will have a ‘B’ sample tested at a laboratory in London on 30 July.
The Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive, Mike Hooper, said: “We [have] issued a formal notice of disclosure to an athlete following an adverse analytical finding as a consequence of an in-competition test. That athlete is Nigerian weightlifter Chika Amalaha who was tested on July 25th. That athlete has now been suspended from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.”
Hooper added: “[the substances] are diuretics and masking agents. In general terms, these substances are on the prohibited list for two reasons – firstly in weight category sports they can be used to unfairly aid weight loss … and secondly, their use has been reported in attempts to mask the presence in the body of other prohibited substances.
“The relevant processes, as detailed in our anti-doping standard for the Games, are now being followed and Ms Amalaha has pursued her right to have her B sample tested. This will take place at an accredited laboratory in London tomorrow, 30 July. Upon receipt of those results the process will continue.”
