Tobi Amusan charged with missing drug tests, risks suspension

Tobi Amusan, women’s 100m hurdles world record holder, has been charged by the Athletic Integrity Unit (AIU) for missing doping tests.

In a post on her Instagram page in the early hours of Wednesday, Amusan said the AIU claimed she violated its rule by “missing three tests in 12 months”.

According to the AIU, an athlete who misses tests within a period of 12 months is guilty of anti-doping rule violation, and the penalty includes suspension for two years, which may be reduced to a minimum of one year depending on the degree of fault.

Reacting to the charge, the Nigerian declared herself “a clean athlete” and vowed to challenge the allegations.

The 26-year-old said she was “tested within days” of her third alleged missed test.

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

“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.

“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 has been in sterling form ahead of the forthcoming 2023 World Athletics Championship, where she is expected to defend her title.

On Tuesday, she clocked 12.25 seconds to win the women’s 100m hurdles at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Hungary.

The victory was Amusan’s second in two days after she ran a season-best 12.34 seconds to set a new meet record at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland on Sunday.