Nigerian Boxer, Cynthia Ogunsemilore Suspended From Olympics After Doping Test

Nigerian boxer, Cynthia Ogunsemilore has been suspended from the 2024 Paris Olympics for violating anti-doping rules.

According to the International Testing Agency (ITA), a sample collected from Ogunsemilore tested positive for furosemide, a substance classified as a diuretic and masking agent by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

This sample was collected in Paris on Thursday, just one day before the Olympic opening ceremony, and the results came back from a WADA-accredited lab on Saturday.

In a statement on Saturday, the ITA said that Cynthia Ogunsemilore has been informed of the violation and is provisionally suspended until the matter is resolved.

“The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter,” the agency said.

“This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity, during the Olympic Games Paris 2024.”

Ogunsemilore can challenge her suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and request an analysis of her B sample.

The 22-year-old boxer, competing in the under 60 kg category, was set to make her Olympic debut on Monday.

Since the start of the Games, two other athletes have also been suspended.

Iraqi judoka Sajjad Sehen tested positive for banned anabolic steroids, and Dominican volleyball player Lisvel Eve Mejia tested positive for furosemide.