• Commonwealth Games

Teenage weightlifter suspended after failing drugs test

Chika Amalaha celebrates her victory in the women's 53kg category weightlifting competition © Getty Images

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Nigerian gold medallist Chika Amalaha has been provisionally suspended from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after failing a drugs test.

Amalaha, 16, won weightlifting gold with a combined total of 196kg in the women's 53kg category.

Amalaha's 'A' sample was found to contain traces of diuretics and masking agents. Her 'B' sample will be tested at a London laboratory on Wednesday.

Amalaha won gold last Friday, with Dika Toua taking silver to secure Papua New Guinea's first medal of the competition and India's Santoshi Matsa winning bronze.

"We [have] issued a formal notice of disclosure to an athlete following an adverse analytical finding as a consequence of an in-competition test," Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper said.

"That athlete is Nigerian weightlifter Chika Amalaha who was tested on July 25th. That athlete has now been suspended from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

"[The substances] are diuretics and masking agents. In general terms, these substances are on the prohibited list for two reasons - firstly in weight category sports they can be used to unfairly aid weight loss … and secondly, their use has been reported in attempts to mask the presence in the body of other prohibited substances.

"The relevant processes, as detailed in our anti-doping standard for the Games, are now being followed and Ms Amalaha has pursued her right to have her B sample tested. This will take place at an accredited laboratory in London tomorrow, 30 July. Upon receipt of those results the process will continue."

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