Tobi Amusan charged with doping violation by AIU

Team Nigeria hurdler, Tobi Amusan, on Wednesday, said she has been charged with a doping rule violation.

 “Today the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has charged me with an alleged rule violation for having three missed tests in 12 months,” she said in a post on Instagram.

The Nigerian athlete set the current world record for the women’s 100m hurdles of 12.12 seconds at last year’s World Athletics Championships.

Amusan, 26, vowed to resolve the charges against her before this year’s competition, set to be held next month in Budapest.

“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,” she said.

“I am a clean athlete, and I am regularly; (maybe more than usual) tested by the AIU – I was tested within days of my third ‘missed test.’ I have faith that this will be resolved in my favour and that I will be competing at the World Championships in August.”

Amusan ran her second fastest time of the season when winning the Gyulai Istan Memorial meeting in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, on Tuesday.

Amusan won ahead of two Americans, Lay-Lay Johnson who was second in a time of 12.41 Seconds, and Nia Ali who finished third in a time of 12.50 Seconds.

It was her second race in just 48 hours for the world and Commonwealth Champion, who won it in 12.35 Seconds (.01 seconds slower than her winning time and Season's Best of 12.34, recorded in Poland, on Sunday).

After a slow and worrisome start to the season which included placing third in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday's victory at the Székesfehérvár athletics field was the third in a row by the Ogun State-born athlete, and her timing in the last two races are surely confidence boosters, ahead of the defence of her title, at the upcoming World Athletics Championships.