PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
By Samuel Akpan in Paris
The Nigerian female boxer Cynthia Temitayo Ogunsemilore, who was suspended from the ongoing Olympics in Paris, explained her own side of the story in a no-holds-barred interview with Persecondnews in Paris before departing for Nigeria.
The Nigerian boxer was scheduled to fight for glory in the women’s 60kg category but was found to have spiked her system with furosemide, a substance prohibited by WADA at all times and classified as a “Specified Substance” under S.5 Diuretics and Masking Agents of the 2024 WADA Prohibited List.
That test was carried out a few days before the games, during an out-of-competition doping control on July 25, 2024.
Ogunsemilore pointed out that her exit from the games was a big set-up from the powers that be because she was destined for a medal at the Olympics.
The Nigerian female boxer won bronze at the Common Wealth Games in Birmingham 2022 and gold at the All African Games in Ghana, where she defeated Rahma Mohamed of Egypt 5-0 in the final of the women’s 60 kg category.
In an exclusive interview with a correspondent of Persecondnews at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in France on Thursday, Ogunsemilore said: “All I know is that it is a set-up; they are looking for a way to ruin my career, and I don’t want to mention names because of how sensitive this issue is.
“I don’t know how it happened; I didn’t use anything. I am plain. The most painful part is that I have worked so hard to be here; I sacrificed a whole lot to be here. The Olympics have been in my dreams; even if I am to use a substance, it won’t be in the games village.
“I arrived at the games village on the 22nd of July, and the test was carried out on the 25th. They said the banned substance is for shedding weight, and I am not trying to lose weight at all.
“I weigh 60 kg, and after eating, it jumps to 61 kg on the dot. This same doping issue happened to one of my team-mates before we left Nigeria, and I witnessed the backlash. Why would I want to use drugs? It doesn’t make sense.
“When we camped in Germany, I never stepped out of my hotel; I can’t step out without the consent of my coach. The only time I go out is for training and to eat food, which I do once a day because of my weight, nothing more, because I am the only female in my category, I don’t have friends, and I was only focused on boxing.
“I don’t know why all of these are happening. I will say it again: it is a set-up. God knows the best. On social media, people are saying different things, like that I use hard drugs and cocaine; I don’t even take alcohol; and they talk more about hard drugs.
“What I want is that if it’s possible for me to do a DNA test of the urine they used for the test for me to be sure it’s my urine, that’s all I am asking for, because if I truly used any drugs, I wouldn’t be in so much pain.
“Four or five months before any major competition, I don’t even take energy drinks. The only drug I took before the games was an antibiotic, which I used on Monday when I arrived in Paris because of an infection I got while in camp. The drug name is Zinaxin, about 500 g. I didn’t tell the team doctor about it because I have been using it before.
“I know I let Nigeria down, but I did not use any drugs. Before the opening ceremony, I was so happy that I was representing Nigeria. Now look at me. I apologize to the Ministry and the NOC.
“I plead with the Minister that it wasn’t intentional; maybe it was from what I drank or ate that I’m not aware of. Please, Nigerians, forgive me in camp. I don’t eat anyhow or take drinks from anybody.
“Since I started my career, I haven’t tested positive before; why now? I can’t explain.”
Leave a comment