by Kolapo Olapoju

Nigeria’s 17-year-old weightlifter, Chika Amalaha has been stripped of the gold medal she won at the ongoing 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)

Amalaha won a weightlifting gold in the 53 kg class on July 25 but subsequently failed a drug test on Tuesday after her ‘A sample’ showed traces of diuretics and masking agents. further testing of her ‘B sample’ also came out positive on Wednesday which confirmed that she took the banned substances.

Amalaha was provisionally suspended by the CGF on July 29, while she waited for the result of her B sample.

The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye, told journalists after the hearing on Friday that the CGF had stripped Nigeria of the gold medal Amalaha won.

Elegbeleye read the content of the CGF’s letter to the press;

“Further to your (Amalaha) appearance today at the federation’s court (CGF) we hereby notify you that the court has decided that you have violated its rules through the use of banned drugs.

“The class of substances contained in her urine sample collected on July 29, 2014 are diuretic and masking agent as well as Hydrochlorothiazide. The court decision is that the following sanctions be imposed on you; that you are fully suspended from the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

“That you are disqualified from the 53kg weightlifting event within which you took part at the 2014 Commonwealth Games with all results nullified. That the gold medal and price awarded to you should be forfeited and returned.”

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