🇫🇷 2024 Paris Olympic Games, July 26 – August 10
NIGERIAN COACH OLALEHIN ADURA SPEAKS OUT ON CYNTHIA DOPING CASE
▫️ The coach says boxer Cynthia has yet to open up to tell the truth on the doping allegations and that he can’t stand for her
Nigeria’s coach to the Paris Olympics Adura Olalehin has finally broken his silence on the doping allegations against star boxer Cynthia Ogunsemilore.
The Nigerian African Games lightweight champion and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist failed a doping test at the Paris Olympics and subsequently barred from participating in the boxing competition.
She tested positive for furosemide, a banned substance classified as a masking agent but she denied doping, and instead told me in an exclusive interview “that was a setup to tarnish her image.”
Commenting on Cynthia’s case for the first time in a telephone interview from Paris, coach Adura said he was not surprised at Cynthia’s defensive stance.
“Athletes will always defend themselves . Even though I have been a very good coach to Cynthia, she’s yet to open up or tell the truth, she’s on the defensive side. I can’t stand for her,” said Adura, a former international boxer who’s been in the US since 2006 and is currently based in Saint Antonio, Texas, as a boxing coach.
Recalling the happenings before the doping announcement was made, Adura said: “On the 27th of July a urine test was done and on the 29th is when we were told Cynthia had tested positive.
“No hearing has taken place till now and Cynthia remains suspended, sincerely I can’t question what science is proving to be right.
“For now I can’t make any conclusion yet until the final hearing. After the hearing and judgment from the anti doping team, then the conclusion can be made.”
Adura, a silver medallist at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, spoke highly on Cynthia’s commitment to boxing and personal discipline especially during training.
“To the best of my knowledge, Cynthia is devoted and a hard working girl who worked effortlessly for the Olympics,” said Adura, adding: “She trained so hard for this competition, and when she’s tired she’s always went an extra mile, she never backs down.”
Adura said as Cynthia’s coach, he doesn’t
interfere with her personal life, freedom of movement and association.
“My role is to ensure Cynthia gives her best during the competition.I don’t interfere or meddle with her personal life. Cynthia is an adult who is old enough to take care of her personal life, my role is to ensure she gives her best in what she does, so I am totally unaware of the doping issue because I’m not with her 24-7.”
Cynthia has already returned home in Lagos waiting for the latest development on her case from the International Testing Agency (ITA) which announced her failed doping test.
When I contacted her today, Cynthia remained non-committal, and said for now she’s relaxing and not in a position to comment again on the doping issue.
“I told you John I’m innocent, I have never doped in my life,” said the talented southpaw boxer who was a hot prospect for a medal at the Paris Olympics.
📸 Nigeria’s boxing team coach to the Paris Olympics, Adura Olalehin (right) with Cynthia Ogunsemilore at their pre-Games training base in Germany before they travelled to Paris.
✍🏼 _AFBC Communications