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'How selfish': Outrage over fresh twist in Olympic doping scandal

Pictured here, Great Britain's silver medal-winning 4x100m relay team.
All members of Great Britain's silver medal-winning relay team are likely to have their medals stripped. Pic: Getty

The four members of Great Britain's 4x100 metre relay team at the Tokyo Olympics are all but certain to have their silver medals stripped after the latest development in the CJ Ujah doping scandal.

In August, the Team GB sprinter was provisionally suspended for allegedly breaching anti-doping rules at the Games, with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) reporting that he had returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) from a drug test carried out during the Olympics.

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It listed the prohibited substances detected as Ostarine and S-23, both classified by world anti-doping organisation WADA as a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) with effects similar to anabolic steroids.

The illegal substances are banned because they help build muscles.

Ujah rejected the allegations against him at the time and insisted the truth would come to light as he awaited results from his B sample.

Great Britain sprinter CJ Ujah is seen here competing at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Great Britain sprinter CJ Ujah has tested positive for banned substances at the Olympic Games. Pic: Getty

However, the International Testing Agency (ITA) confirmed on Tuesday that the sprinter's B sample also tested positive for banned substances.

The case has now been referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport's anti-doping division, with Team GB almost certain to be stripped of their silver medals.

"The ITA confirms that as per the athlete's request, the B-sample analysis was carried out by the WADA-accredited laboratory of Tokyo on 19 August 2021 and the procedure confirmed the result of the A-sample," the ITA said in a statement.

"The ITA has thus referred the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division ('CAS ADD')."

The scandal has sparked outrage on social media, with users gutted for Ujah's relay teammates Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake - who are all expected to lose their silver medals.

CJ Ujah insisted he was not a drug cheat

The ITA cited World Athletics' anti-doping rules which state: "Where the athlete who has committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation competed as a member of a relay team, the relay team shall be automatically disqualified from the event in question, with all resulting consequences for the relay team, including the forfeiture of all titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money."

Ujah said after the initial doping allegation that he was "shocked and devastated" by the provisional suspension handed down by the Athletics Integrity Unit and insisted he was not a drug cheat.

"It's taken me a few days to process the information I received on Thursday shortly before it was made public," Ujah said in a statement.

"I am completely shocked and devastated by this news.

"To be absolutely clear, I am not a cheat and I have never and would never knowingly take a banned substance.

"I love my sport and I know my responsibilities both as an athlete and as a team-mate.

The possible forfeiture of the medals will be considered first, before the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) follows up to consider any sanction beyond the Games for Ujah.

If Team GB are disqualified, Canada would take silver with China promoted to the bronze medal position.

with agencies

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