CJ Ujah drugs test: British Olympic silver medallist suspended for alleged anti-doping breach

Great Britain sprinter CJ Ujah, part of the men’s 4x100m team who won silver at the Tokyo Olympics, has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for an alleged anti-doping breach.

Ujah, 27, was part of the British quartet alongside Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake who were beaten on the finish line by Italy.

The AIU announced on Thursday that following the conclusion of the Games, the doping control laboratory in Tokyo also notified the International Testing Agency of an additional ‘adverse analytical finding’ from testing during the Olympics.

Ujah was found to have presence/use of a prohibited substances ostarine and S-23, which are selective androgen receptor modulators (SARM) and help with building muscle.

If the case against Ujah is proven, he could face losing his relay silver medal along with the rest of the British team.

As well as the British athlete, Bahrain’s 1500m runner Sadik Mikhou, Georgian shot-putter Benik Abramyan and Kenya sprinter Mark Otieno Odhiambo have also been provisionally suspended following adverse tests, the AIU confirmed.

Who is CJ Ujah?

Chijindu Ujah is a British athlete, specialising as a sprinter. In 1994, he became the fifth British sprinter to break 10 seconds for the 100 metres, and the youngest to do so, when he ran 9.96 aged just 19.

He was the lead-off runner of the Great Britain 4x100 metre relay team that won both the World Championships in 2017 and the European title in 2016 and 2018.

At the Tokyo Olympics, he again ran the first leg as Team GB was pipped for gold on the line by Italy.

What is ostarine?

Ostarine is the trademarked name for a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) that is not approved for human use or consumption. In recent years, WADA has reported an increasing number of positive tests involving SARMs.

Dietary supplements containing ostarine typically claim to promote muscle building. Ostarine is readily available online - it is commonly sold in pill form for oral consumption.

What has been said?

A statement from the AIU read: “The AIU now awaits the conclusion of the ITA proceedings against the above athletes, which will determine whether any anti-doping rule violations have been committed and what consequences (if any) should be imposed in relation to the Olympic Games.

“Any consequences beyond the Olympic Games to be imposed upon the athletes under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules will be determined following the conclusion of the ITA proceedings.”