Sports
Okon, Another Nigerian Fails Drug Test
A second Nigerian has failed a drugs test at the Commonwealth Games.
Samuel Okon, 24, who was sixth in the 110m hurdles won by Andy Turner, tested positive for the same drug as women’s 100m winner Damola Osayemi.
According to Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell, Okon is waiving the right to the B sample test but this has yet to be confirmed.
Osayemi has been provisionally suspended until the result of her B sample is received.
Both athletes tested positive for methylhexaneamine, which is a stimulant that was added in 2009 to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned drugs. It was reclassified earlier this year, meaning it can be used with a therapeutic use exception certificate.
Fennell said: “We are concerned with the number of incidents that are coming up with the same substance.
“At this stage I cannot speak very definitively as to where it’s coming from but it appears that it may be coming from the use of supplements.
“The supplements industry is by and large an unregulated industry worldwide and it is an industry that is a cause of great concern, not only for the fight against doping but also the protection of athletes.”
Asked when the results for Okon’s B sample test would be known, Fennell replied: “We have been informed that the athlete is waiving the right to the B sample (test) but this has yet to be confirmed.
“We will confirm this at his hearing this afternoon.”
The Nigerian team have been informed and are also investigating.
“We have already had discussions with the leadership of the Nigerian team, who are themselves taking it very seriously. They are very concerned about it,” Fennell told a news conference.
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CAFCL : Rivers United Arrives DR Congo
Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt contingent, comprising players, technical crew, backroom staff, and officials, depart the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos State on Wednesday, bound for Kinshasa, DR Congo.
The team is set to face FC Les Aigles du Congo in the first-round first-leg match of the CAF Champions League.
This was contained in a press release signed by the media officer of the club, Charles Mayuku and made available to Tidesports on Wednesday.
He said that the highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place at the 80,000-capacity Kinshasa-Complexe Omnisports Stade des Martyrs on morrow with kickoff slated for 3:30pm.
According to the statement the encounter marks the first-ever meeting between both sides in any competition, adding that an air of excitement and unpredictability to the fixture.
“As the Pride of Nigeria embarks on this crucial journey, the team is determined to return with a decent result that will set them up favorably for the second leg on Sunday, 28th September” the statement said.
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FIFA rankings: S’Eagles drop Position, remain sixth in Africa
The new rankings, released via FIFA’s official X handle on Thursday, reflect the team’s continued struggles under Coach Eric Chelle amid a stuttering 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
This marks a second consecutive decline after the Nigerian side dropped from 43rd to 44th in August on the back of poor outings in recent international matches.
Despite Nigeria’s setback, several African teams made progress. Morocco remains the continent’s highest-ranked side, sitting 11th in the world after winning eight of their last nine matches. Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire complete Africa’s top five.
Lesotho slipped to 153rd place, while Benin Republic, Nigeria’s upcoming opponent, climbed to 93rd. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, who held the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw in June, rose to 55th, strengthening their bid for World Cup qualification.
Zimbabwe had the biggest slide down the ranking table, dropping nine places to 125th position in the world.
The rankings highlight Nigeria’s struggle to regain form on the global stage as key rivals continue to surge ahead.
Similarly, the Super Falcons of Nigeria remain 36th best in the world], while the Spanish female national team replaced the USA at the top of the women’s ranking.
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