CJ Ujah, whose failed drugs test cost Team GB an Olympic silver medal in Tokyo in 2021, has been sensationally recalled to Britain’s 4x100m squad for the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas next month.
It means the 30-year-old, whose positive test after the Olympic final was found to have been caused by a contaminated amino acid bought on Amazon for £10 during lockdown, could yet have a shot at redemption in the Paris Games this summer.
However, his inclusion is bound to be highly controversial given he was banned for 22 months after two prohibited substances were found in his urine. Another popular sprinter named in the squad, Richard Kilty, has also previously said he would “never forgive” Ujah for what he called “sloppy and reckless” behaviour that robbed him of a silver medal.
What aggrieved Kilty was that Ujah had not used supplements that were protected by being batch-tested by Informed Sport – as all athletes are told to do – meaning Ujah had no defence when his banned test was revealed.
Ujah has since apologised and, when the Guardian spoke to him in 2022, he winced when reminded of Kilty’s words. “I saw the criticism from Kilty and I can’t blame him,” he said. “He’s got a family. He’s got kids. So I do sympathise with him and understand the position he’s coming from.”
UKA’s decision was criticised by its former chief operating officer Mark Munro, who posted on X: “An athlete who has lost an individual medal through stupidity is bad enough. An athlete who has cost teammates their ultimate prize, profile and earning … shocking decision.
“No doubt fear of legal repercussions,” Munro added. “But relays [are] built on trust, teamwork and culture/behaviours.”
Ujah has been in the wilderness since his ban ended last June. However, it is understood that the UK Athletics sprints coach, Darren Campbell, has decided to give him another chance after seeing his training data and speaking to him. Ujah confirmed his early season form by running a wind-assisted 10.19sec over 100m a fortnight ago.
Campbell has also taken back Reece Prescod, who walked out on the British relay squad for the world championships in Budapest last August, in a bid to build the best possible team to win Olympic gold. Campbell will need to use his diplomatic skills to keep everyone happy, given Kilty also criticised Prescod in 2022 after he said he had forgiven Ujah.
Campbell acknowledged the men’s team had had its “challenges” in recent years but said he was confident that it could qualify for the Olympics by doing well in the Bahamas.
“The men’s 4x100m team were unlucky not to medal, finishing fourth in Budapest, but the team did incredibly well and have worked well over the winter,” he said. “They have had their fair share of challenges in recent years, but I have had my own discussions with each and every member of the squad and know they are motivated, committed and focused on working together to reach Paris.”
Britain won four relay medals at the world championships and the UKA Olympic head coach, Paula Dunn, said she was confident of a strong showing from the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m teams, as well as the mixed relay squad, in the Bahamas. “We are going there with a clear aim to put us on the road to Paris.”
