Nigeria powerlifter Esther Oyema has been slammed with a four-year ban for violating anti-doping rules.
News of her ban was announced on Wednesday by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) which rules her out of next year’s Paralympics in Japan.
She has also been stripped of the gold medal she won at last year’s International Para Powerlifting Competition in Nigeria.
The statement read, “As a result of her violation, Oyema will be ineligible for competition for four years from 3 May 2019 to 2 May 2023. She has also been stripped of the gold medal which she won in the women’s up to 55kg competition in Lagos, together with any points and prizes.
“The substance was 19-norandrosterone. This is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2019 Prohibited List under the class S1.1B Endogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) and their Metabolites and
isomers”.
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“Each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in his or her sample. An ADRV occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in his or her bodily specimen, whether
or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault”.