The British men’s 4x100m relay squad have been stripped of their Olympic silver medal from last summer’s Games after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) found CJ Ujah guilty of a doping violation.
The 27-year-old, who combined with Richard Kilty, Zharnel Hughes and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake to come a narrow second to Italy in Tokyo, has been provisionally suspended from the sport since mid-August after after an in-competition sample tested positive for two banned substances.
CAS had been reviewing his case and delivered the verdict on Friday (February 18), along with the delivery of a 10-year ban to female Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare, stating that Ujah: “is sanctioned with the disqualification of his results in the 4 x 100m sprint relay Final on 6 August 2021, and his results in the 100m sprint.”
The finding went on. “The Great Britain men’s sprint relay team results in the 4 x 100m sprint relay Final on 6 August 2021 are disqualified together with the forfeiture of any medals.”
In terms of what punishment or length of ban Ujah will now face, CAS added: “World Athletics is requested to consider any further action within its own jurisdiction and pursuant to its own Rules including the determination of any period of ineligibility.”
A statement from Ujah read: “I accept the decision issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport today with sadness. I would like to make it clear that I unknowingly consumed a contaminated supplement and this was the reason why an anti-doping rule violation occurred at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“I sincerely regret that this has inadvertently led to the forfeiture of the men’s 4 x 100m relay team’s Olympic silver medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“I would like to apologise to my team-mates, their families and support teams for the impact which this has had on them. I’m sorry that this situation has cost my teammates the medals they worked so hard and so long for, and which they richly deserved. That is something I will regret for the rest of my life.
“I would also like to apologise to both British Athletics and Team GB. British Athletics has supported the relay athletes for years and this has been difficult for everyone involved in the programme. Representing my country at a second Olympic Games surpassed my childhood sporting ambitions and I will forever be devastated that this situation has marred the success achieved by the men’s 4 x 100 relay team in Tokyo.
“Now that the IOC proceedings have concluded before CAS, my focus is on the forthcoming proceedings before World Athletics and I will therefore not be making any further comment until those separate proceedings have concluded.”
UK Athletics insisted they will not be making any public comment until after the conclusion of the proceedings with World Athletics, saying only that they “continue to be in regular communication with the athletes concerned”.
From that 4x100m relay final, third-placed Canada have now been upgraded to silver and China to bronze.
Credit: Athletic Weekly
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