British sprinter CJ Ujah charged over alleged involvement in cryptocurrency scam

British sprinter CJ Ujah has been charged with conspiracy to defraud as part of an investigation into a group cryptocurrency scam.

Ujah, 32, was one of ten people arrested after “extensive enforcement action” conducted by the Regional Organised Crime Unit on April 29, the organisation’s statement on Friday read, assisted by Kent Police, City of London Police and The Metropolitan Police Service.

The suspects were alleged to be part of an organised crime group linked to a scam in which victims are called by people pretending to be police officers and cryptocurrency companies.

“Victims are reported to have been tricked into sharing important security details, including seed phrases, before discovering funds stored in their crypto wallets had been stolen,” The ROCU statement on Friday read. “One of the victims is alleged to have lost more than £300,000.”

The ten arrested were remanded to court within 24 hours, the ROCU statement said, as part of an investigation by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit. They were brought before Margate Magistrates’ Court and Ujah is one of seven who were bailed to attend a Chelmsford Crown Court hearing on May 28.

The Brit won a silver medal with Team GB in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games for the 4x100m, but the relay team had the title stripped after he tested positive for two prohibited substances at the competition. Ujah was subsequently banned for 22 months but was later cleared of committing the doping violation intentionally.

The sprinter also won relay gold at the 2017 World Championships, running the first leg of the 4x100m. He returned to racing with GB in the 2024 world relays but has not raced this year.