Sports
Blessing Okagbare gets 10-year ban for doping
The disciplinary tribunal of Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has handed Blessing Okagbare, the Nigerian sprinter, a 10-year ban for breaching multiple anti-doping rules.
According to the statement released by AIU today, the Nigerian got a five-year ban for the presence and use of multiple prohibited substances and another half-a-decade for her refusal to cooperate with the body’s investigation of her case.
The sprinter was suspended indefinitely during the Tokyo Olympics after the AIU had adjudged her to have tested positive for human growth hormone in one of the out-of-competition drug examinations she did in Slovakia on July 19.
She was thereafter slammed with three separate anti-doping charges by the body in October 2021.
The 33-year-old has now been prohibited from all track and field events organised by World Athletics for the next decade.
“The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years, five years for the presence and use of multiple prohibited substances and five years for her refusal to co-operate with the AIU’s investigation into her case,” the statement read.
“The sole arbitrator adjudicating the case concluded that the athlete’s use of multiple prohibited substances as part of an organised doping regimen in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympic Games was egregious conduct that amounted to aggravating circumstances under the Rules thereby warranting an additional period of ineligibility on top of the standard four-year sanction.
“The sole arbitrator also recognised the AIU’s right to carry out investigations, including the imaging of electronic devices, and to impose sanctions when an athlete refuses to co-operate with an investigation and thereby frustrates the AIU’s ability to fulfil its mandate to protect the integrity of the sport of athletics.
“In this instance, the sole arbitrator concluded that the athlete’s refusal to cooperate had denied the AIU the opportunity to discover evidence of possible further rule violations by her as well possible violations of the rules by others, for which he imposed an additional sanction of five years.”
The statement added that the athlete has the right to appeal against the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CaS) within 30 days.
Danny Jordaan, the president of the South African Football Association (SAFA), has been arrested for alleged misappropriation of R1.3 million.
According to the South African police service, the 73-year-old was apprehended on Wednesday in Johannesburg.
Police said Jordaan used the federation’s resources for his gain, “including hiring a private security company for personal protection and a Public Relations company without authorisation from the SAFA Board”.
Authorities added that alleged misappropriation happened between 2014 and 2018.
“The Serious Commercial Crime Investigation charged with probing the allegations executed search seizure warrants, 08 March 2024 at the South African Football Association’s office where an assortment of electronic gadgets and files were seized for further investigation, thus leading to the arrest,” the statement reads.
Gronie Hluyo, SAFA chief financial officer, and Trevor Neethling were also arrested.
The trio are due to appear in court later on Wednesday.
Gift Atulewa, the former Flying Eagles player, is dead.
In a chat with TheCable, Azuka Chiemeka, spokesperson for the Delta State Football Association, said the ex-footballer died on Tuesday morning.
Chiemeka said Atulewa died after suffering complications from high blood pressure, which the ex-footballer had been battling for a while.
The DSFA spokesperson added that the ex-footballer’s remains have been taken to the Central Hospital in Warri.
Atulewa was a member of the Flying Eagles squad that participated in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.
The team, which had Mikel Obi, Chinedu Obasi, and Taiye Taiwo, finished with a silver medal after losing to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the final.
Atulewa played professional football for Bayelsa United F.C. before moving to Ocean Boys F.C. and Warri Wolves F.C.
He had recently returned from Cote d’Ivoire, where he earned a coaching certificate.
Former France international footballer Wissam Ben Yedder received a suspended two-year jail sentence on Tuesday for sexually assaulting a woman in September.
Ben Yedder, 34, is the former captain of French Ligue 1 side Monaco and is second on the club’s list of all-time leading goalscorers. He left Monaco at the end of last season and has been without a club since.
On the evening of September 6, Ben Yedder met a woman during an inebriated outing and invited her into his car, according to the investigation.
There, the woman told police, he performed a sex act in front of her.
The woman immediately filed a complaint with police, who arrested Ben Yedder later that night.
“I don’t remember anything, I can’t say if I did it. It’s because of alcohol that I’m here,” Ben Yedder, who entered a rehab programme after the incident, said during the trial. He did not attend the sentencing on Tuesday.
Ben Yedder is also the defendant in another case going to trial in December in which he is charged with psychological violence against his wife. The couple is in the process of divorcing.
Ben Yedder also stands accused by another woman of raping her in the summer of 2023. Police are still investigating that claim.
He has denied both accusations.
Ben Yedder started his professional career in Toulouse before moving to Spanish side Sevilla.
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