Nigerian athlete and world record holder in the women’s 100-meter hurdles Oluwatobiloba Amusan has been cleared of the doping charges that were brought against her by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics, News About Nigeria reports.
The Athletics Association of Nigeria (AFN) and the global athletics community breathed a sigh of relief learning about the announcement which has been long anticipated.
Amusan had been provisionally suspended by the AIU pending an investigation into her missed whereabouts tests earlier this year.
Her suspension had raised concerns and speculation about her future in the sport, especially considering her remarkable achievements, including breaking the 100-meter hurdles world record at the previous World Championships.
The charges against her were related to alleged evasion of anti-doping tests conducted by AIU agents. Throughout the process, Amusan maintained her innocence, attributing the situation to potential miscommunication.
In Budapest, Hungary, the venue for the upcoming World Championships, a panel of three arbitrators carefully evaluated the evidence and cleared Amusan of two out of the three test failures.
Her defense rested on the argument that the tester failed to adequately locate her during the specified testing periods. The verdict not only vindicates her but also ensures her participation in the highly anticipated event.
AFN sources revealed that Amusan will now join her fellow athletes in Budapest, just in time for the opening ceremony of the World Championships.
While the news was met with a collective sense of relief, AIU Head Brett Clothier expressed the organization’s disappointment with the decision.
AIU intends to thoroughly review the rationale behind the verdict before deciding whether to appeal the decision within the designated timeframe to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
