Tobi Amusan, the world champion and world record holder in the 100m hurdles, has been charged by the Athletics Integrity Unit for missing three drug tests in 12 months.
Her charge comes with only 31 days left to the 2023 World Athletics Championships, and the world champion, via her Instagram account says she will challenge the charge.
Amusan revealed the charge via her Instagram account, where she emphatically stated she is ‘a clean athlete’.
The charge can trigger up to a two-year suspension even if an athlete never fails a drug test.
“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,” the post read. “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 favor and that I will be competing at the World Championships in August.”
Amusan, a 26-year-old from Nigeria, lowered the world record from 12.20 seconds to 12.12 in the semifinals of last July’s worlds in Eugene, Oregon. She won the final in 12.06 later that day, but that time didn’t count for record purposes because there was too much tailwind.
This season, Amusan ranks second in the world by best time (12.34, recorded Sunday) behind Olympic gold medalist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico (12.31).
