Nigeria: Chukwuemeka’s Dope Fate Hangs in Balance

Quest by Vivian Chukwuemeka to prove that her latest dope travails was manipulated to deny her an appearance at the London 2012 Olympics may have run into a permanent stall.

The shot putter had declared her innocence and called for her B sample to be opened as she expressed confidence that the process that produced a positive dope result for her for the second time was flawed.

The athlete was sent home from the London 2012 Olympics camp along side sprinter Lauretta Ozoh after they allegedly failed a dope test conducted by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, from the All Nigeria/Cross River Athletics Championships last June.

Ozoh, it was gathered, gave up her right to have her B sample analysed. The other athlete involved in the dope clearance in London was Regina George. She was however, cleared because she had proof that the medication she took was actually recommended.

According to AFN medical and doping committee chairman, Dr. Ken Anugueje, Chukwuemeka’s case is being delayed because the national doping officer, Dr. Femi Ayorinde and the Laboratories in South Africa are yet to set a date for the opening of the athlete’s B sample.

“The matter is between the national doping officer and the laboratories. They are yet to come up with a date convenient for all concerned. It is not a matter for the AFN, but for the Laboratory and the Doping officer and the athlete,” said Dr. Anugueje.

However, Dr. Ayorinde painted a totally different picture. He stated that it was the AFN and the athlete that are responsible for the delay.

“I haven’t got any communication from the AFN concerning Vivian’s case. All I know is that she has requested for her B sample to be tested, so I am waiting for her and the AFN to communicate a date convenient for them. She would have to be in South Africa personally or at best send a representative,” Ayorinde volunteered.

Chukwuemeka was making a comeback after a two-year ban due to a dope suspension from 2009. She also contested the result of that dope test. She insisted that there were inconsistencies in the collection of her samples and during the opening of her “B” sample in South Africa Chukwuemeka was not represented.

The athlete who broke her own 2006 18.35m record with 18.86m at the 2012 Africa Championships in Port Novo, Benin Republic declared that her second dope failure left her mystified.

She made known her intention to get to the bottom of the matter and prove her innocence this time around and according to Chukwuemeka, her B sample holds the key to solving the mystery.

“Why was it that it was in Calabar that I tested positive. I competed at the African Championships why was it that I did not test positive there, because the two competitions were back to back.”