AIU Clears Tobi Amusan Of Anti-Doping Rule Violations

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) have cleared world champion in the 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, of an anti-doping violation charge as her provisional suspension has been lifted with immediate effect.

A Disciplinary Tribunal panel on Thursday found by a majority decision the Nigerian had not violated any anti-doping rules. Amusan had been charged with three doping test Whereabout Failures within a 12-month period last month, leaving her participation at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary in doubt.

The reasoning for the decision is yet to be published, but the AIU through its head, Brett Clothier, has expressed its disappointment and plans to review the ruling, before deciding whether to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

In the latest statement, AIU said a “majority decision” of the disciplinary tribunal ruled that Amusan “has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period”.

A panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal, by majority decision, has today found that Tobi Amusan has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period. pic.twitter.com/RAW2LeRjYg

— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) August 17, 2023

The decision means Amusan would be allowed to participate and defend her women’s 100m hurdles titles at the 2023 World Athletics Championship. Should the AIU opt against an appeal or a potential appeal be unsuccessful, Amusan would be cleared to compete at the World Championships in the Hungarian capital.

Amusan protested her innocence after being charged by the AIU, insisting she is a “clean athlete” and “regularly” tested. Consequently, the world champion was excluded from the 26-athlete team submitted by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), for the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

• Read more: World Athletics Championships: Brume Leads Nigeria, Amusan Not Selected
• Read more: Nigerian Athlete Tobi Amusan Dismisses Doping Violation Allegation

However, her name on the World Athletics (WA) official list of athletes for the competition was accompanied by the condition that her participation is based on the ruling on the case with the AIU.

The 100m hurdles event at the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest is scheduled to hold from August 22nd – 24th, 2023.

Amusan is also a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, back-to-back African champion and Diamond League Final winner in the 100m hurdles.