Nigerian boxer Cynthia Temitayo Ogunsemilore has been provisionally suspended for a doping violation ahead of her debut fight at the Paris Olympics. The International Testing Agency (ITA) announced the suspension, citing an adverse finding for a banned substance.
Ogunsemilore, who is 22, was set to compete in the -60 kg weight category. The issue arose after a sample collected from her tested positive for furosemide. Furosemide is a diuretic and masking agent classified as a Category S5 substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
This suspension marks the third doping case since the Olympics began. Earlier cases involved Iraqi judoka Sajjad Sehen and Dominican volleyball player Lisvel Eve Mejia.
The sample in question was collected on July 25 during an out-of-competition test conducted by the ITA. The results were reported by the WADA-accredited lab in Paris on July 27.
As a result of the provisional suspension, Ogunsemilore is barred from competing, training, or participating in any Olympic activities. This suspension will remain in effect until the case is resolved according to the World Anti-Doping Code and IOC Anti-Doping Rules.
Ogunsemilore has the option to contest the provisional suspension by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport – Anti-Doping Division. She can also request an analysis of her B-sample to challenge the findings.
