- Despite being exempt from intentional doping, Ujah was banned due to a failed test.
- “It would be better if we accepted that and made plans,” says UK Athletics chief
CJ Ujah was chosen for the first time since his drugs ban for the British 4x100m relay team, and UK Athletics has defended this “incredibly difficult” decision, claiming it had little choice given the sprinter’s potential to make the Olympic team.
Concerns were voiced regarding UKA’s choice to include Ujah in the GB team for the world relays the following month, considering his positive test results following Team GB’s loss of a silver medal in the Tokyo Olympic final.
With Paris just around the corner, Jack Buckner, the CEO, claimed it was a prudent decision.
“I am not avoiding it,” he declared. “I believe it to be really challenging and challenging.” In essence, CJ Ujah will be a member of the relay team if he meets the individual Olympic qualification requirements.
“We need to prepare for everything. Rather than just brushing it under the rug in an awkward way, I would prefer that we face it head-on, plan for it, and act professionally and maturely. In the end, he will be in the relay squad if he makes that team individually,” according to World Athletics regulations.
Ujah was cleared of purposeful doping after it was determined that his positive test resulted from a tainted amino acid that he had purchased on Amazon for £10 during lockdown, as first reported by the Guardian.
Nonetheless, because he did not take a supplement that Informed-Sport had approved, teammate Richard Kilty called him “reckless.”
Buckner further stated that before selecting Ujah, UKA sprint coach Darren Campbell had conferred with the other members of the team.
“From what I understand, Darren has already had all of the hard talks with all of the parties. It is difficult. Thanks to Paula Dunn’s support, Darren was able to overcome the challenging and self-centered nature of sprinters.
