The Athletics Integrity Unit(AIU) has provisionally suspended Nigerian track and field athlete, Tobi Amusan for three missed ‘Whereabout failures’
The suspension was consequent upon Amusan’s missing of three drug tests within a 12-month period.
In a statement on Twitter, the AIU said the charge will be heard by the Disciplinary Tribunal and determined before the World Athletics Championships.
Under the AIU rules, athletes are required to submit their whereabouts information, including their daily location and availability for testing, to the AIU’s Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS).
However, failure to provide accurate and timely whereabouts information can result in sanctions.
While the AIU’s decision will be further investigated and reviewed in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, the charge could result in a two-year suspension, even if an athlete has never failed a drug test.
Tobi Amusan, 26, is the women’s hurdles world record holder who has represented Nigeria in numerous international competitions and has won many honours.
She was confered with National honour, (OON) by the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari for her exploits.
The AIU’s decision will be further investigated and reviewed in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code.
In 2022, One of Nigeria’s legendary athletes, Blessing Okagbare was banned for 10 years for multiple breaches of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.
Meanwhile, Amusan has vowed to resolve the charges against her before this year’s world athletics championships in Budapest next month.
“I am a CLEAN athlete, and I am regularly (maybe more than usual) tested by the AIU,” she wrote, in referencing the Athletics Integrity Unit, which oversees doping issues in international track and is the agency that charged her with the violation.
She said, “Today the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has charged me with an alleged rule violation for having 3 missed tests in 12 months.
“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.