United States-based Nigeria sprinter, Grace Nwokocha is now free to compete, after serving out her three-year doping ban. The expiration of Nwokocha’s doping ban sparked excitement among athletics family in the United States during the week.

Nwokocha, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay gold medal-winning team at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, tested positive for Ostarine and Dihydroxy-LGD4033 (a metabolite of Ligandrol) during the competition.

The Commonwealth Games Federation’s Anti-Doping Rules prohibit both substances at all times. At the Alexander Stadium, Nwokocha ran the anchor leg alongside Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, and Rosemary Chukwuma, beating England’s Daryll Neita and Jamaica Elaine Thompson-Herah to win the gold medal in an African Record time of 42.10secs.

Following a provisional suspension by the AIU on August 21, 2022, the CGF Court found her guilty of anti-doping violations in March 2023. She accepted the ruling and the ban was backdated to August 3, 2022, and ended on August 2, 2025.

With the ban now fully served out, Nwokocha is now free to resume competition at the highest level.