World Athletics adds U.S-based sprinter Rosemary Chukwuma to testing pool

Nigeria’s all-time second-fastest woman, Rosemary Chukwuma, has been added to the World Athletics International Registered Testing Pool.

In a July update, Chukwuma, a former African U-18 and U-20 double sprint champion and 100m bronze medalist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, became the eight Nigerian athletes to be included among the long list of high athletes around the world, whose names were published by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

Athletes at the highest level of their sport are selected for what is known as a Testing Pool.

Chukwuma ran 10.88 seconds in Fayetteville, Arkansas in May to become the second Nigerian woman to legally dip inside 10.90 seconds and move to number two behind Blessing Okagbare (10.79) in Nigeria’s all-time list.

Other Nigerians, who are in the updated testing pool include former World champion 100m hurdles champion and record holder, Tobi Amusan, and three-time World Athletics Championships (indoors and out) long jump medalist, Ese Brume.

Also on the updated list are Shot Putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and another long jumper, Ruth Usoro.

Others are Nigeria’s indoor 200m record holder (22.11) and outdoor (21.96), Favour Ofili, and 400m hurdles record holder, Ezekiel Nathaniel.

Missing is Enoch Adegoke, the 2021 Olympics 100m finalist, who has been removed following his poor run of form since last year, and the duo of Divine Oduduru and Blessing Okagbare after committing anti-doping rules violations.

The eight Nigerian athletes on the testing Pool are thus required to provide whereabouts information to the AIU and the information will be used by Anti-Doping Organisations (ADOs) to locate them for effective out-of-competition doping control.

The AIU will be primarily responsible for testing the eight Nigerians, while the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) will have the responsibility of testing others who should be in its testing pool.