The Athletics Integrity Unit, AIU, has cleared Nigeria’s biggest athletics icon of the moment, Tobi Amusan of accusations of missing three doping tests as well as lifted her suspension.
Credible News reports that Amusan will now be able to compete at the 2023 World Athletics Championships which begins this weekend in Budapest, Hungary.
In a statement on Thursday, the AIU noted that: “A panel of the disciplinary tribunal, by majority decision, has today found that Tobi Amusan has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation of three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period.
“AIU Head, Brett Clothier has indicated the 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”.
The 100 metres hurdles world record-holder can now defend her world title after a disciplinary tribunal hearing found her not to have broken anti-doping rules over missed tests.
The 26-year-old double Commonwealth Games gold medallist had consistently denied taking performance-enhancing substances.
Writing later on Instagram, Amusan said: “I’m thrilled to put this behind me and look forward to defending my title at the World Championships”.
Amusan set the women’s 100m hurdles world record at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in July 2022 after crossing the line in 12.12 seconds.
Credible News reports that World Athletics’ anti-doping rules state that any athlete failing to declare their whereabouts for a doping test on three occasions should be suspended.
This infraction must however have been committed over a 12-month period, and the athlete will be ineligible to compete for two years.
This is however subject to a reduction to a minimum of one year depending on the degree of fault.