…even if another country has to be stripped of a medal first for that to happen. (Tough luck, Russia).
As Nigeria’s medal drought continues in the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympics – despite appearing to come close a couple of times – one Russian Olympian’s sins of the past has brought about a recent upgrade in our sparse Olympic medals collection. Following an announcement made by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) yesterday, the Russian relay team’s win, from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, was disqualified after the team was found guilty of doping.
Russian sprinter Yulia Chermoshanskaya was stripped of her Olympic gold medal (with her teammates) for the Women’s 4×100 meter relay at Beijing 2008, after her doping samples were reanalysed. Chermoshanskaya tested positive for prohibited substances stanozolol and turinabol, which means that her entire relay team in 2008 is also guilty of the anti-doping ruling violation, according to the IOC. Their diplomas were also withdrawn.
The IOC then went on to direct the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) to “modify the results” of the competition eight years ago and to “consider any action within its own competence.” This development saw Nigeria’s relay team at Beijing 2008 – Ene Franca Idoko, Gloria Kemasuode, Halimat Ismaila, and Oludamola Osayomi – hand over its bronze medal to Brazil, while securing a brand new silver medal from Belgium.
Nigerians may not exactly be impressed at our latest Olympic silver medal acquisition, and it might not necessarily help to distract us from our still empty medal safes in Rio, but, perhaps, it does a little in brightening our Rio 2016 Olympics sky? Doesn’t it?
The first round of the same competition (Women’s 4X100 relay) is scheduled to take place today in Rio. Nigeria runs in the second set of heats with Blessing Okagbare leading the relay team. Maybe it’s a “sign” that, although the 2016 Olympics will come to a close in a few days, and we’re running a little late in picking up medals, we shouldn’t lose hope in gunning for medals in our remaining performances just yet.
#NigeriaCanStillWinMedalsInRio
