Nigerian boxer Cynthia Temitayo Ogunsemilore has been provisionally suspended from the Paris Olympics after violating an anti-doping rule, the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced on Saturday.
The ITA’s statement revealed that a sample taken from Ogunsemilore showed traces of furosemide, a substance classified under “diuretics and masking agents” by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The test occurred in Paris on Thursday, one day before the Olympic opening ceremony, and a WADA-accredited laboratory confirmed the results on Saturday.
Ogunsemilore, who is set to compete in the under-60 kg boxing category, has been informed of the allegations and her provisional suspension. During the suspension, she is barred from competing, training, or engaging in Olympic-related activities. She retains the right to challenge the suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and may request a reanalysis of her B sample.
This incident marks Ogunsemilore’s first Olympic appearance, originally scheduled for Monday. Additionally, the ITA has recently reported doping violations involving two other athletes at the Games, including Iraqi judoka Sajjad Sehen for anabolic steroids and Dominican volleyball player Lisvel Eve Mejia for furosemide.
