Great Britain stripped of Tokyo Olympics relay silver due to CJ Ujah doping violation

February 18, 2022

Great Britain have been stripped of their silver medal in the men’s 4x100m relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after sprinter CJ Ujah was found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The British team just lost out to Italy for the gold medal in Japan, with Ujah testing positive for the prohibited substances ostarine and S-23 after the race on August 6.

The relay team also featured Zharnel Hughes, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Richard Kilty.

A statement issued by the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) on Friday said Ujah did not challenge the anti-doping rule violation, but argued he had "not knowingly or intentionally doped, suggesting that the source of the prohibited substances could have been the ingestion of a contaminated supplement".

The statement added: "The CAS ADD sole arbitrator issued the present decision in which she determined, to her comfortable satisfaction, that an anti-doping rule violation had been committed."

World Athletics has been requested to consider any further action within its jurisdiction, including a decision on whether to impose a ban on Ujah.

The 27-year-old athlete said in a statement: "I accept the decision issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport today with sadness.

"I would like to make it clear that I unknowingly consumed a contaminated supplement and this was the reason why an anti-doping rule violation occurred at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

"I sincerely regret that this has inadvertently led to the forfeiture of the men's 4x100m relay team's Olympic silver medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

"I would like to apologise to my team-mates, their families and support teams for the impact which this has had on them.

"I'm sorry that this situation has cost my team-mates the medals they worked so hard and so long for, and which they richly deserved. That is something I will regret for the rest of my life.

"I would also like to apologise to both British Athletics and Team GB. British Athletics has supported the relay athletes for years and this has been difficult for everyone involved in the programme.

"Representing my country at a second Olympic Games surpassed my childhood sporting ambitions and I will forever be devastated that this situation has marred the success achieved by the men's 4x100m relay team in Tokyo.

"Now that the IOC proceedings have concluded before CAS, my focus is on the forthcoming proceedings before World Athletics and I will therefore not be making any further comment until those separate proceedings have concluded."

A statement from the British Olympic Association read: "We have always been unequivocal and consistent in our stance against doping. All athletes, wherever they are from, deserve to go to the start line knowing they are in clean competition.

"It is with deep sorrow that colleagues and opponents of Ujah were not able to be reassured of this fact in Tokyo.

"Having spent the last few years retrospectively awarding numerous British athletes with medals they should have won on the day at Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Sochi 2014, we understand first-hand the hurt and loss doping can cause.

"On behalf of everyone in British sport we unreservedly apologise to the athletes whose moment was lost in Tokyo due to the actions of Ujah.

"We are also disappointed for the three colleagues of Ujah who, through no fault of their own, will now lose their silver medals.

"We note Ujah's statement, and we welcome his contrition. That said, this should act as a salutary message for anyone -British or otherwise - who is doping or considering doping as a way of boosting their athletic performance. You will get caught. You are not welcome on our team and nor are you representative of our values, or of our nation."

UK Athletics said it was in communication with the athletes concerned but would not comment until the conclusion of the process set to follow involving World Athletics and the Athletics Integrity Unit.

Rate this item
(0 votes)

HOW TO LISTEN

103.5 & 105.3FM

Online

Mobile Apps

Smart Speaker