The reigning champion and world record holder in the 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, has received the green light to participate in the World Athletics Championships which commenced this past Saturday in Budapest, Hungary.
The 26-year-old athlete had been accused of three instances of whereabouts failures, a violation of anti-doping rules involving missing three out-of-competition tests within a one-year period. Amusan contested this allegation.
A recent statement from the AIU on Thursday announced the removal of the suspension imposed on her last month due to the whereabouts failures.
The statement from the AIU clarified, “After deliberation, a majority decision by the Disciplinary Tribunal has determined that Tobi Amusan did not commit an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) involving three Whereabouts Failures within a twelve-month span.”
With her eligibility restored, Amusan can now vie for the only championship title she has not yet defended in her career. She had successfully defended her Nigerian, African Championships, African Games, Commonwealth Games, and Diamond League titles.
The tribunal, comprised of three arbitrators, absolved Amusan from two of the three tests after she argued that the tester had not adequately attempted to locate her.
Amusan maintained her innocence throughout the ordeal, asserting, “I am an athlete committed to fair play, and I regularly undergo testing by the AIU—I was tested within days of my third ‘missed test.”
Expressing confidence in a favorable resolution, she wrote on her Facebook page last month, “I believe this matter will be resolved in my favor, allowing me to compete at the World Championships in August.”