By Victor Kanayo
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has pronounced a three-year ban on Nigerian long and triple jumper, Goodness Iredia.
According to the athletics body, this is because Iredia tested positive for a prohibited substance.
“The presence of the prohibited substance in the athlete’s sample constitutes an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV).
“As a result, the athlete is subject to a period of ineligibility in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code.
“Athletes are responsible for what is found in their system. The AIU carefully reviewed the athlete’s submissions and supporting documents but found no substantial proof of contamination or unintentional ingestion.
“This decision serves as a reminder that anti-doping rules are in place to protect the integrity of competition,” the AIU said in a statement on Friday.
Responding, Iredia denied knowingly taking the banned substance and suggested it may have come from contaminated supplements. However, the AIU ruled that he failed to provide sufficient evidence to support his claim.
With this ruling, Iredia is barred from competing until his suspension ends.
However, he has the option to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
His results from the date of the positive test have also been disqualified.
