AIU expresses disappointment after Tobi Amusan gets nod to compete at World Championships

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan poses after setting a world record in the women’s 100m hurdles semi-final during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 24, 2022. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP)

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the organization responsible for managing integrity matters in athletics, including both doping and non-doping issues, has expressed disappointment with the outcome of the Disciplinary Tribunal’s decision regarding Tobi Amusan’s appeal against a whereabouts failures charge.

Despite Amusan’s assertion that she did not commit any anti-doping rule violation, the panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal, in a majority decision, concluded that she had not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period.

Brett Clothier, the head of AIU, stated that the AIU is disappointed by this decision and intends to review the reasoning in detail before deciding whether to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within the relevant deadline.

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The details of the decision are currently confidential but will be made public in due course, according to AIU.

This decision could potentially create tension between the AIU and the global athletics community, as some observers have accused the AIU of targeting Amusan following her unexpected victory at the 18th edition of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon last year.

In light of the decision, Amusan’s provisional suspension has been immediately lifted. As a result, the 26-year-old athlete is now cleared to compete at the 19th World Athletics Championships, which are scheduled to commence on Saturday