NIGERIAN 2023 COMMONWEALTH GOLD MEDALIST SUSPENDED PROBABLY FOR DOPING

Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha, a Nigerian athlete who won gold in the 4x100m relay at this year's Commonwealth Games, has been provisionally suspended for the use of prohibited substances, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Saturday.

Last month, Nwokocha, 21, ran the anchor leg in Birmingham as Nigeria beat England and Jamaica to win gold.

"The AIU has provisionally suspended Nigerian runner Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha for the Presence/Use of Prohibited Substances (Ostarine & Ligandrol) (Article 2.1 and Article 2.2)," the organization said in a Twitter statement.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has banned both ostarine and ligandrol as anabolic agents (WADA) A provisional suspension means that an athlete is temporarily barred from competing until a final decision is reached at a WADA-conducted hearing.

Nwokocha qualified for the Olympics in Tokyo last year and also competed in the 100m and 200m at this year's world championships in Eugene, reaching the semi-finals in both events.