The Athletics Integrity Unit and the World Anti-Doping Agency have exonerated the British 100m sprinter CJ Ujah of intentionally using illegal substances, and he will be able to return to competition next year.
Ujah led the men’s 4x100m relay team to a silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics before testing positive for two banned substances, ostarine and S-23. It resulted in the British team losing their medals and Ujah receiving a four-year ban.
However, in a statement released on Monday, the AIU affirmed Ujah’s 22-month ban following a comprehensive investigation that concluded in his favor. Under Wada’s rigorous liability criteria, an athlete is still liable for everything they put into their body, thus he must still serve a reduced ban.
“The AIU and Wada were satisfied that the sprinter’s anti-doping rule violation was not intentional due to his ingestion of a contaminated supplement, and the sprinter’s two-year period of ineligibility was reduced by two months due to his prompt admission of the violation,” according to an AIU statement.
Ujah will be able to return to competition on June 5, 2023, giving him two months to establish his fitness before potentially rejoining the British team in time for the world championships in Hungary in the following year.
Brett Clothier, the head of the AIU, cautioned athletes to be aware of the potential implications of supplement use and to pay closer attention to the appropriate rules and athlete education programs.
“After a careful assessment of the circumstances, we determined that Mr. Ujah had indeed consumed a tainted supplement, but he was unable to show that he was entitled to any reduction in the appropriate time of ineligibility based on his degree of responsibility,” stated Clothier.
“Athletes who consume supplements do so at their own risk, as they may be tainted or even adulterated with banned chemicals. Before ingesting anything, athletes owe it to their fellow competitors to be 100 percent certain. If there is even the slightest question, omit it.”
In February, the British relay team automatically forfeited their silver Olympic medals since Ujah did not contest the adverse analytical conclusion at a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing.
The 28-year-old has yet to react to the ruling, but earlier this year he issued the following statement: “I would like to make it clear that I unintentionally ingested a tainted supplement, which led to an anti-doping rule violation at the Tokyo Olympics.
“I deeply regret that this has resulted in the forfeiture of the Olympic silver medals won by the men’s 4x100m relay team. I would like to apologize for the impact this has had on my teammates, their families, and their support teams. This is something I will always regret.”
