Nigerian boxer Cynthia Temitayo Ogunsemilore, who is competing in the Paris Olympics, has been suspended for violating anti-doping rules, the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced in a statement on Sunday evening.
“A sample taken from boxer Cynthia Temitayo Ogunsemilore produced an adverse analytical finding for a specified prohibited substance, furosemide, classified as a Category S5 diuretic and masking agent according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List,” the ITA wrote.
“The athlete has been notified of this matter and has been provisionally suspended pending resolution of this matter in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Paris 2024 Games,” the agency said.
“This means that this athlete is prohibited from competing, training or participating in any activity during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”
The sample was collected by ITA officials during an out-of-competition test in Paris on Thursday, ahead of the Games opening ceremony, the ITA added.
“The result was reported by the Paris laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency on July 27, 2024.”
The boxer can refer the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). She can also request the examination of the B sample taken during the same test.
Boxing in the 60kg category, Ogunselimore, 22, was due to make his Olympic tournament debut on Monday.
Two athletes have been excluded since the start of the Paris 2024 Games: Dominican volleyball player Lisvel Eve Mejia, who tested positive for furosemide (a diuretic) during the last Nations League, and Iraqi judoka Sajjad Sehen, who tested positive for banned anabolic substances (methandienone and boldenone).