Nigerian boxer Cynthia Temitayo Ogunsemilore has been banned from the Paris Olympics for breaking a doping rule, the International Testing Agency (ITA) said on Saturday.
A sample taken from Ogunsemilore tested positive for furosemide, a banned substance. Furosemide is listed as a “diuretic and masking agent” by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The sample was collected in Paris on Thursday, just one day before the Olympics opening ceremony. A WADA-accredited lab reported the positive result on Saturday.
“The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter,” the ITA stated. “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 and request an analysis of a second sample.
The 22-year-old boxer, competing in the under 60 kg category, was set to make her Olympic debut on Monday.
Two other athletes have also been suspended since the Games began. Iraqi judoka Sajjad Sehen tested positive for anabolic steroids, and Dominican volleyball player Lisvel Eve Mejia tested positive for furosemide.
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