Tobi Amusan, Nigerian track queen sensation, has been cleared of alleged doping.
Amusan, the women hurdles world record holder, was cleared of any anti-doping rule violation by a panel of Disciplinary Tribunal.
This was contained in a press release today by the Monaco-based Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
Tobi Amusan was provisionally suspended last July for allegedly missing three drug tests within 12 months.
The women hurdles record holder however claimed that she was innocent of the allegation, even as she then faced a two-year ban, if the charges were upheld.
However, the Disciplinary Tribunal to review the “Amusan Decision”, in a majority decision, declared: “Amusan’s provisional suspension has now been lifted with immediate effect.
This was after the panel “found that Tobi Amusan has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period.
“AIU Head Brett Clothier has indicated the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is disappointed by this decision.
“[It] will review the reasoning in detail before deciding whether to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within the applicable deadline.
“The decision is currently confidential but will be published in due course,” it was stated in the press release.
Following her suspension then, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) left out Tobi Amusan from the country’s contingent to the World Athletics Championship set to begin on Saturday.
This was as the then embattled athletic had vowed to challenge the suspension, maintaining she is a “clean athlete”.
“I am a CLEAN athlete, and I am regularly (maybe more than usual) tested by the AIU.
“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,” Tobi Amusan had tweeted hours after the provisional suspension.
With the latest development, the medal hopeful will take part in the World Athletics Championship, billed for Budapest, Hungary.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is the independent body created by the World Athletics to manage all integrity issues.
These issues include both doping and non-doping for the sport of athletics.
The AIU mandate includes anti-doping, pursuit of individuals engaged in age or competition results manipulation.
It also investigates fraudulent behaviour with regards to transfers of allegiance, and detects other misconducts, including bribery and breaches of betting rules.
Among others, the Monaco-based AIU is charged with the responsibility to drive cheats out of sport.
It is also to do everything within its power to support honest athletes around the world who dedicate their lives to reaching their sporting goals through dedication and hard work.
