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Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare out of Olympics after failing drug test before 100m

Associated Press

TOKYO — Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare was provisionally suspended for doping Saturday, hours before she was due to run in the semifinals of the women's 100 meters at the Olympics.

Okagbare tested positive for human growth hormone in an out-of-competition test on July 19, the Athletics Integrity Unit said, prompting a mandatory provisional suspension.

The results of that test were only received by track and field's anti-doping body late Friday and after Okagbare had already run in the 100 heats on the opening day of track competition at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, the AIU said.