Nigerian Weightlifter Stripped of Gold -- Commonwealth Games Roundup

(ATR) The Commonwealth Games Federation says that the "B" sample of Nigerian weightlifter Chika Amalaha has also been confirmed as positive and she has been fully suspended from the event.

She has returned her gold medal and did not contest the findings of the test at a Friday hearing.

The 16-year-old tested positive for diuretics and masking agents after winning the 53-kg division last week. She was the youngest ever female weightlifting champion at a Commonwealth Games.

However, Amalaha was then suspended on Tuesday after testing positive in her "A" sample, with the backup sample undergoing investigation.

Hooper denied that the incident tainted the integrity of the competition, saying it is not "denigrated."

"They’ve put on a great tournament. You only had to be there and see the atmosphere," he added.

No Ebola in Athletes’ Village or Scotland

Meanwhile, organizers have been at pains to allay fears about a possible Ebola outbreak after Sierra Leone cyclist Moses Sesay was quarantined and tested for the virus.

Sesay was cleared of the disease but the UK is on red alert after reports of border controls not being stringent enough in testing visitors who may have been exposed to the virus.

However, Glasgow 2014 spokeswoman Jackie Brock-Doyle tried to quell a possible panic by insisting the Games were safe.

"If athletes are ill, they are tested for whatever symptoms they are showing," she said. "So it’s not a whole Ebola testing regime - whatever the symptoms are, they’re being tested for that.

"Just to be clear, there is no Ebola virus in the athletes’ village or in Scotland."

Olympic Boxer Lobbies for Headguards

Boxing returns to Glasgow today with the semi-finals taking place, but much concern has been raised about the men’s fighters’ health since the removing of headguards – and professional Amir Khan wants to see the protective items return.

Khan, who won silver for Team GB at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, spoke of his concern about the number of cuts suffered by athletes during the competition so far.

"There has been a lot of cuts and stuff," he said. "It can happen even with headguards on. But with the headguard, it does largely prevent it.

"I would say headguards should come back, especially with fighters fighting five times in one week. They should come back for health and safety. Knockouts don’t happen much in amateur fights anyway. They should come back - it’s much safer for the fighters."

AIBA initially scrapped headguards for men last year in a bid to reduce the number of concussions. However, boxing’s governing body confirmed they will review that decision after the Glasgow Games due to the number of cuts seen.

Australian boxer Daniel Lewis called for the immediate return of safety wear after suffering a cut eye in his welterweight win over Nigeria`s Kehinde Ademuyiwa on Monday. The cut was so bad, he failed a medical to take part in his quarter-final on Wednesday.

"We are looking at the number of cuts and, after our study, we will prepare our report," the Commonwealth Games tournament supervisor said.

"But we have to remember that without headguards the number of concussion injuries suffered by boxers has gone down."

The boxing competition concludes on Saturday.

Friday Action

There are 20 gold medals up for grabs today. As the event draws to a close, lawn bowls officially finishes as does the gymnastics competition.

Usain Bolt makes his first appearance this evening in the 4x100m relay heats at Hampden Park. It’s the first time the Jamaican sprinter will face the local crowd since his reported derogatory comments about the Games.

Hooper, however, was confident that Bolt would face no adverse reaction from the Glasgow spectators.

Reported by Christian Radnedge

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