Nigerian 100m winner tests positive for banned drug

11:31 am on 12 October 2010

A Nigerian gold medal winner has become the first athlete of the Commonwealth Games to test positive for a banned substance.

Sprinter Damola Osayemi claimed gold in the women's 100m in Delhi after Australian sprinter Sally Pearson was disqualified on Thursday.

Osayemi, 24, has been suspended after testing positive for banned stimulant methylhexaneamine, which was added to the list of banned substances this year.

The Nigerian was promoted to gold after Pearson was disqualified for a false start three hours after the finish.

Natasha Mayers, from St Vincent and the Grenadines, who has served her own two-year doping ban, will be elevated to the gold medal if Osayemi is stripped of the title.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell confirmed the result at a news conference in Delhi and said he had asked for her B sample to be tested.

The test result is expected to be known by Wednesday.

Nigeria's chef de mission says he is shocked and disappointed by the positive drug test.

The country's Athletics Federation is blaming the result on prescription medication given to Osayemi for a toothache.

It says Nigeria will mount a strong case against stripping her of the gold medal.