'I am not a cheat': Olympic medallist hits out over doping 'disaster'
Sprinter CJ Ujah has pleaded his innocence over a provisional doping suspension that could see his Great Britain relay teammates stripped of their Olympic silver medal.
Ujah says he is "shocked and devastated" by the provisional suspension handed down by the Athletics Integrity Unit over an alleged anti-doping breach.
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The 27-year-old, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics as part of the men's 4x100m relay team, was informed last week of an 'adverse analytical finding' from testing that took place during the Games.
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.
If Ujah is proven guilty, it could be heartbreaking for the other three members of Britain's silver medal-winning relay team, who could have their medals taken away.
Ujah's relay teammates were Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, whose medals will also be at risk of being stripped if the positive is confirmed.
English sports journalist Martyn Ziegler tweeted: “It’s a disaster for his relay team-mates — they face being stripped of their medals too.”
Ujah reacted to last week's news with an Instagram post of himself that read: “Stay focused … Because truth is madder than fiction.”
CJ Ujah 'shocked and devastated' by scandal
Over the weekend he spoke out about the controversy at greater length by maintaining his innocence and insisting that he's been left "shocked and devastated" by the scandal.
"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.
"I am respecting the formal processes and will not be making any further comment until it is appropriate to do so."
Ujah was found to have presence/use of prohibited substances ostarine and S-23, which are selective androgen receptor modulators (SARM) and help with building muscle.
Bahrain's 1500m runner Sadik Mikhou, Georgian shot putter Benik Abramyan and Kenya sprinter Mark Otieno Odhiambo have also been provisionally suspended following adverse tests.
with AAP
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