Paris Olympics: Cynthia Ogunsemilore provisionally suspended for doping violation

The International Testing Agency (ITA) has handed Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Nigeria’s boxer, a provisional suspension for testing positive for a banned substance ahead of her opening fight at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In a statement in the early hours of Sunday, ITA said Ogunsemilore tested positive for furosemide in an out-of-competition doping test collected on Thursday.

Furosemide belongs to a group of medicines called loop diuretics (also known as water pills). The substance is given to help treat fluid retention (edema) and swelling that is caused by congestive heart failure, liver disease, kidney disease, or other medical conditions.

Furosemide is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on its prohibited list. The drug is categorised as a diuretic and a masking agent, which can prevent the detection of other performance-enhancing substances.

“The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter in line with the World Anti-Doping Code and the International Olympic Committee Anti-Doping Rules,” the statement reads.

“This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity, during the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

“The athlete has the right to challenge the imposition of the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport – Anti-Doping Division. The athlete also has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.”

Ogunsemilore was due to face Taiwan’s Wu Shih Yi in a round-of-16 bout on Tuesday.

The development reduced the Nigerian boxing contingent to one after Dolapo Omole pulled out of the Games due to injuries.