Tobi Amusan, the world champion and world record holder in the 100m hurdles, disputes a charge and provisional suspension over missing three drug tests in a 12-month span.
A post on Amusan’s Instagram account stated that she was charged Wednesday with three missed drug tests in a 12-month span, which can trigger up to a two-year suspension even if an athlete never fails a drug test.
The Athletics Integrity Unit, which handles doping cases in track and field, later confirmed that Amusan is provisionally suspended over the missed tests.
A disciplinary tribunal will hear her case before next month’s world championships, making it possible for the ban to be lifted before the meet if she is cleared.
“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,” Amusan’s 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).
