LONDON − Team Great Britain’s silver medal in the men's 4x100 metres relay at the Tokyo Olympics is almost certain to be stripped after the International Testing Agency (ITA) confirmed yesterday that Chijindu ‘CJ’ Ujah's B sample has tested positive for banned substances.
CJ provided the sample on August 6, the ITA said, the same day that he was part of the British team which won silver behind Italy.
Should the Swiss sports court decide Britain should be stripped of their silver medal, in what would be the highest profile drugs scandal for UK Athletics, then China and Canada are set to benefit.
Canada would jump from bronze to silver and China, who finished fourth, would take the bronze medal, which would be China’s first Olympic medal in the 4x100m relay.
Although China topped the medal tally at the Tokyo Games with 38 golds, 32 silvers and 18 bronze medals, a 19th bronze would not affect their standings, which are decided on golds won, but it would cement China’s best performance at an overseas Olympics and create sprint history.
"The ITA confirms that as per the athlete's request, the B-sample analysis was carried out by the WADA-accredited laboratory of Tokyo on August 19 and the procedure confirmed the result of the A-sample," the ITA said in a statement.
"The ITA has thus referred the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD)."
CJ’s samples have tested positive for prohibited substances Ostarine and S-23, which are commonly used to build muscle.
The ITA cited World Athletics' anti-doping rules, which state: "Where the athlete who has committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation competed as a member of a relay team, the relay team shall be automatically disqualified from the event in question, with all resulting consequences for the relay team, including the forfeiture of all titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money."
CJ was provisionally suspended following the result of the A sample last month and released a statement on August 14 saying he was "shocked and devastated" by the outcome of the test.
He added: "To be absolutely clear, I am not a cheat and I have never and would never knowingly take a banned substance.
"I love my sport and I know my responsibilities both as an athlete and as a teammate."
The possible forfeiture of the medals will be considered first before the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) follows up to consider any sanction beyond the Games for the Olympian. – AFP, September 15, 2021
