VAM News Update
Tobi Amusan, Nigerian athlete, not cleared to defend her title at World Athletics Championships due to ongoing doping investigation.
World Athletics clarifies that no decision has been made yet, awaiting Athletics Integrity Unit’s determination before the event.
According to World Athletics, Tobi Amusan has not been cleared to defend her title at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, next week.
As a result of the doping investigation, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) barred her from competing in the upcoming competition.
However, Amusan’s name was later added to the world athletics championship list by the AFN, leading to reports that she had been cleared.
However, the world’s athletics body said in a statement on Sunday that the Nigerian star had not been cleared for the competition.
Please be advised – reports that say Tobi Amusan has been cleared to compete in Budapest are wrong,” Nicole Jeffery, World Athletics’ Head of Communications, said in a statement.
No decision has been made in this case yet. When a decision is made, it will be announced by the Athletics Integrity Unit.
Remember that World Athletics included the 26-year-old Nigerian’s name in the entry list for the Budapest Championships published last week, but with the caveat that her participation would be contingent on the outcome of the AIU’s whereabouts failure charge.
The AIU has stated that a decision on the matter will be made prior to the start of the World Championships.
AFN awaiting Amusan’s AIU clearance
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria said it is still awaiting the Athletics Integrity Unit’s decision on Tobi Amusan’s participation in the 2023 World Athletics Championships, which will be held in Budapest, Hungary, from August 19 to 27.
With one week until the championships, Amusan’s prospects of defending the crown she earned in Oregon last year are in jeopardy after the AIU suspended her last month for failing three whereabouts checks.
In the entry list published by World Athletics, the women’s 100m hurdles world record holder was listed among Team Nigeria’s athletes.
However, her participation is still subject to clearance by the AIU.
The AFN also released the list of athletes that would represent the country at the championships last Tuesday, with the world champion and record holder excluded. However, her name was on the entry list sent to the World Athletics by the AFN.
