Tobi Amusan’s Inclusion in World Athletics Championships Provisional List Awaits AIU Decision

As the eagerly anticipated 2023 World Athletics Championships draws near, Tobi Amusan, the reigning World Women’s 100m hurdles champion and record holder, finds herself in a situation of uncertainty. Amusan’s name has been included in the official provisional list released by World Athletics for the upcoming championships, which are scheduled to take place from August 19 to 27 in Budapest, Hungary. However, her participation is contingent upon the outcome of her defense before the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

Amusan’s journey to the championship has been marred by a provisional suspension imposed by the AIU due to her alleged failure to complete three drug tests during this season, just a month before the competition. This development led to her omission from Team Nigeria’s list of 26 athletes, a roster disclosed by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, as she awaits a final decision from the AIU regarding her case.

Despite the hurdles she faces off the track, Tobi Amusan’s inclusion in the official entry list by World Athletics signifies her potential participation in the championship. However, her eligibility to compete hinges on the resolution of her appeal against the charges of missed drug tests.

Amusan remains resolute in her determination to contest and address the allegations leveled against her before the commencement of the World Championships. In a statement shared on her Instagram account, she affirmed her status as a clean athlete and emphasized her regular testing by the AIU.

She declared, “Today the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has charged me with an alleged rule violation for having 3 missed tests in 12 months… I intend to fight this charge and will have my case decided by a tribunal of 3 arbitrators before the start of next month’s World Championships.”

Amidst the ongoing legal battle, Tobi Amusan’s athletic achievements cannot be overshadowed. Notably, she clinched the World 100m hurdles title in a spectacular performance that set a current world record of 12.12 seconds during last year’s World Athletics Championships in Oregon. Although her remarkable time of 12.06 seconds in the same race was invalidated due to excessive tailwind, Amusan’s dedication to her craft remains unwavering.

In addition to her World Championship victory, Amusan has achieved milestones on multiple fronts, including retaining her Commonwealth Games title with a Games’ record of 12.30 seconds and defending her Diamond League title. Her exceptional accomplishments have solidified her status as a standout athlete on the international stage.

As Tobi Amusan’s legal battle unfolds in the weeks leading up to the World Athletics Championships, the athletic world watches closely, eager to witness her potential return to the track and her pursuit of further accolades.