The Nigeria Olympic Committee is set to present Nigeria weightlifter, Mariam Usman with the Olympic bronze medal awarded her after the International Olympic Committee disqualified Koroboka Olha of Russia in the women’s weightlifting +75kg category.
Koroboka Olha was stripped by the IOC of her medal and result following a positive anti-doping test of her 2008 sample.
In a statement, the Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Tunde Popoola said the medal will be awarded to Mariam Usman as the qualified recipient and runner up in the event.
The NOC said the presentation is scheduled to hold on Thursday in Abuja.
The statement read, “In light of this cheering development, the NOC intends to formerly present the medal to you on the occasion of the executive board meeting scheduled to take place on Thursday, 7th September 2017 at the media Center of the National Stadium, Abuja slated for 11am”.
The NOC said they are taking responsibility for the cost of her return flight, accommodation and feeding in the country’s capital.
An elated Mariam Usman in a chat with aclsports.com said she feels fulfilled adding that she did not only compete at the 2008 Olympic but competed clean.
“I feel happy and fulfilled as an Olympian. For any athlete, the Olympics is the highest level of sporting achievements. I didn’t just compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but I compete clean”.
