Nigerian Wrestler Tests Positive for Nandrolone at Commonwealth Games

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Vanguard ()
08/14/2002


Disgraced Wrestler in Fresh Trouble  Published in the Vanguard (Lagos, Nigeria)  August 12, 2002    FRIDAY Agumnowie, the Nigerian wrestling medal hope for the Commonwealth Games, who failed a dope test few days to the commencement of the games may be punished by the Nigeria Amateur Wrestling Federation (NAWF).    Secretary of NAWF, Josephat Ochi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos over the weekend that the federation would soon decide on the appropriate punishment for Agumnowie.    "The federation is taking steps to see what to do about Agumnowie. His dope test failure was bad for the federation.    It was something we never expected to happen. We felt bad when we received the news. It was a most unfortunate development," Ochi said.    Agumnowie, was disgraced at the games when he failed a drug test, barely two days to the commencement of the games, in which Nigeria featured 112 athletes, eight of them wrestlers.    The drug test, carried out at the International Olympic Committee accredited laboratory in South Africa, showed that Agumnowie's urine sample contained traces of nandrolone.    The wrestler, who was with other athletes in Manchester when the scandal broke, was reportedly sent home by the Nigerian officials at the games.    Agumnowie, described as an experienced wrestler, works with the Lagos State Sports Council at Rowe Park, Yaba.