Nigerian boxer Cynthia Temitayo Ogunsemilore has been handed a suspension from the Paris Olympics for violating anti-doping regulations, according to an announcement by the International Testing Agency (ITA) on Saturday.
In a statement, the ITA revealed that a sample taken from Ogunsemilore tested positive for the prohibited substance furosemide. This drug is listed under “diuretics and masking agents” by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The sample in question was collected in Paris on Thursday, just one day before the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony. It was analyzed and reported by a WADA-accredited laboratory on Saturday.
This development means Ogunsemilore will not be competing in the Paris Olympics, a significant blow to both her career and Nigeria’s hopes in the boxing events.
