Ex-Golden Eaglet suspended by FIFA for doping
Lately, the number of Nigerian athletes caught up in the doping network has increased across all sports in recent years.
Currently, Nigeria has five athletes who have been banned from competition for doping.
Gold medalist Grace Nwokocha was recently suspended for a doping violation and now a former Golden Eaglet player has been suspended for four years for the same violation.
Former Golden Eaglet and Bologna player Kingsley Orji has been suspended by football's governing body FIFA for four years for doping.
Orji's ban was due to a discovery by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal.
24-year-old Orji was part of the Nigerian Golden Eaglets team that won the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile alongside Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze, who are big guns for their respective clubs - Napoli and Villarreal.
After impressive performances at the 2015 U-17 World Cup, Orji joined Italian side Bologna in 2016, where he played 23 games and scored three goals in two years.
They loaned him out to another Italian team, Brescia, in 2018 before he went on a long loan trip to MLS side Montreal Impact, where he played 43 games for nine goals.
ALSO READ: Amid doping allegations, Buhari refuses to award women's 4x100m relay teamOrji's last club before the Italian FA charged him with doping was Serie B side AS Cittadella between 2021 and 2022, where he played 20 games and scored seven goals.
According to a FIFA statement released by NFF Media Manager Ademola Olajire, Orji's ban started from February 25, 2022 to February 24, 2026.
"As a result, the Committee has decided to extend the sanction imposed on the player by the Italian NADO on June 20, 2022.
"Specifically, the player is sanctioned with a four (4) year suspension from all football-related activities in accordance with the Decision."
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Lately, the number of Nigerian athletes caught up in the doping network has increased across all sports in recent years.
Currently, Nigeria has five athletes who have been banned from competition for doping.
Gold medalist Grace Nwokocha was recently suspended for a doping violation and now a former Golden Eaglet player has been suspended for four years for the same violation.
Former Golden Eaglet and Bologna player Kingsley Orji has been suspended by football's governing body FIFA for four years for doping.
Orji's ban was due to a discovery by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal.
24-year-old Orji was part of the Nigerian Golden Eaglets team that won the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile alongside Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze, who are big guns for their respective clubs - Napoli and Villarreal.
After impressive performances at the 2015 U-17 World Cup, Orji joined Italian side Bologna in 2016, where he played 23 games and scored three goals in two years.
They loaned him out to another Italian team, Brescia, in 2018 before he went on a long loan trip to MLS side Montreal Impact, where he played 43 games for nine goals.
ALSO READ: Amid doping allegations, Buhari refuses to award women's 4x100m relay teamOrji's last club before the Italian FA charged him with doping was Serie B side AS Cittadella between 2021 and 2022, where he played 20 games and scored seven goals.
According to a FIFA statement released by NFF Media Manager Ademola Olajire, Orji's ban started from February 25, 2022 to February 24, 2026.
"As a result, the Committee has decided to extend the sanction imposed on the player by the Italian NADO on June 20, 2022.
"Specifically, the player is sanctioned with a four (4) year suspension from all football-related activities in accordance with the Decision."
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
[embedded content]TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT: Call Willie - +2348098788999
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