British 4x100m relay silver medallist under investigation for breaching anti-doping rules

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced Thursday they have started disciplinary proceedings against four athletes charged with breaching anti-doping rules at Tokyo 2020. The group includes Chijindu Ujah of the U.K., who was a part of the country’s silver medal-winning 4x100m relay team. If he, and thus the rest of his team, are disqualified, they could be stripped of their medal, which means the third-place Canadian team could be exchanging their bronze medals for silver.

The AIU has started disciplinary proceedings against 4 athletes asserted to have breached anti-doping rules @Tokyo2020 , following testing by @IntTestAgency.
Sadik Mikhou ??
Benik Abramyan ??
Mark Otieno Odhiambo ??
Chijindu Ujah ??
?️⬇️
https://t.co/qjMyEDfwTY#AIUNews pic.twitter.com/l0dUBaFOC9

— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) August 12, 2021

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According to the AIU press release, Ujah has tested positive for two substances: ostarine and S-23. Neither of these are steroids; they are selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs). These have similar properties to anabolic steroids, but with reduced androgenic (producing male characteristics) properties. If Ujah is charged with doping and thus suspended, his entire relay team will likely lose their silver medals, which will bump the Canadian squad of Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and Andre De Grasse into the silver medal position.

The other athletes who tested positive include 1,500m runner Sadik Mikhou of Bahrain, shot putter Benik Abramyan of Georgia and Kenyan 100m runner Mark Otieno Odhiambo. All four athletes have been provisionally suspended while the International Testing Agency (ITU), which is responsible for testing at the Olympic Games on behalf of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), determine whether any anti-doping rule violations have been committed and what consequences (if any) should be imposed in relation to the Olympic Games. The full press release can be found here.

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