Amusan Faces CAS Hearing as AIU Raises Doping Clearance Concerns 

Following the recent drama trailing the Nigerian hurdler Tobi Amusan, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has appealed the decision that cleared her of doping violations. This move puts the spotlight back on the Amusan doping case, just days after she successfully defended her title at the Diamond Athletics 100m Hurdles Championships in Budapest.

The AIU originally charged Amusan with breaching anti-doping regulations in July after she failed three ‘whereabouts control’ tests within a 12-month period. Consequently, she faced a provisional ban from participating in all athletic events. However, an Independent Disciplinary Tribunal cleared Amusan of all charges a month later, lifting the provisional ban.

The AIU filed an appeal last Friday, 15th of September 2023 with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the Disciplinary Tribunal’s decision, dated 17 August 2023,  announced on their official account that Tobi Amusan did not commit an anti-doping rule violation for whereabouts failures. They also stated that they would make no further comments on the Amusan doping matter until the conclusion of the appeal.

Amusan, who set a world record with a time of 12.12 seconds in the 100 hurdles at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, has been vocal about fighting the charges. In a series of posts on her Instagram account in July, she declared her intention to contest the accusations vehemently.

The issue of Amusan doping came into focus again after her victory at the Prefontaine Classic, which concluded the Diamond League season. This win came on the heels of an earlier gold medal at the World Athletics Championships, where her record-breaking time was disqualified due to a too-strong tailwind.

The AIU’s appeal comes at a time when the governing body is concerned about setting precedents that could complicate future doping cases. AIU Chair David Howman indicated that the decision to clear Amusan of the doping charges left the organization with reservations, suggesting that it could create difficulties in pursuing similar cases in the future.

Amusan responded brusquely to reporters who questioned her about the ongoing Amusan doping case during the opening heats of a recent championship. She said she is only ready to compete and that’s all that matters. The AIU’s decision to appeal to the CAS adds yet another layer of complexity to this saga and will undoubtedly continue to generate debate in the sporting community.

As the Court of Arbitration for Sport prepares to hear the appeal, all eyes will be on the outcome and its ramifications for both Tobi Amusan and the broader athletics community. Whether the Amusan doping case will set a new precedent or uphold existing anti-doping measures remains to be seen.