BUDAPEST, Hungary – Tobi Amusan has been exonerated from doping allegations, reviving her aspirations for the forthcoming World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
The Athletics Integrity Unit, AIU, announced on Thursday, August 17, 2023, that a majority of the Disciplinary Tribunal members found no evidence to suggest Amusan had violated Anti-Doping rules.
They specifically addressed allegations of three “Whereabouts Failures” within a year.
“The decision is currently confidential but will be published in due course. Amusan’s provisional suspension has now been lifted immediately,” the statement read.
However, not all at AIU were pleased with the outcome.
Brett Clothier, the AIU head, expressed disappointment in the decision.
“AIU is disappointed by this decision and will review the reasoning in detail before deciding whether to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, within the applicable deadline,” Clothier commented.
Last month’s provisional suspension of Amusan, who holds the record for women’s hurdles, was seen as a significant setback for Nigeria’s medal prospects.
Consequently, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, had excluded Amusan from the national team for the World Athletics Championship, scheduled to kick off this Saturday.
Yet, following this recent decision, the nation’s medal hopes might just have received a significant boost. It appears that Amusan will indeed grace the tracks in Budapest.
Standing firm in the face of adversity, Amusan had earlier professed her innocence and pledged to combat the suspension.
“I am a CLEAN athlete, and I am regularly (maybe more than usual) tested by the AIU,” she asserted in a tweet following her provisional suspension.
She further expressed her commitment to contest the allegations, stating, “I intend to fight this charge and will have my case decided by a tribunal of three arbitrators before the start of next month’s World Championships.”
With the suspension now in her rearview, Amusan’s journey at the World Championships will undoubtedly be one to watch closely.
