By John Essien
Ghanaian boxer Shakul Samed has been suspended by the organisers of the 2022 Commonwealth games in Birmingham, United Kingdom after testing positive for a banned masking agent on day one of the competition.
The CWG 2022 Anti-Doping and Medical Commission confirmed the decision taken against Samed in a statement on Friday.
The statement read: “His A sample was found to contain a prohibited substance (diuretic and masking agent Furosemide). He has therefore been suspended with immediate effect. He and the Ghana Commonwealth Games Association have been informed.
“He will now have the opportunity to provide further information, including requesting analysis of his B sample, before any charge is issued,” the statement added.
Samed, who had participated at the Tokyo Olympics last year, was scheduled to take on Mauritius’ Luc Jean Rosalba on Friday, but after he did not show up at weigh-in, his opponent won via a walkover.
For the records, Samed is the first athlete to fail a drug test at the Birmingham Games, which began on July 28 and will go on till August 10.
