Track & Field: Hurdles Champ Tobi Amusan Accused of Evading Drug Test 3 Times; Athlete Responds as 2-Year Suspension Looms

(Photo : Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - Tobi Amusan of Nigeria celebrates following their victory in Women's 100 Metres Hurdles during the Weltklasse Zurich 2022, part of the 2022 Diamond League series at Stadion Letzigrund on September 08, 2022 in Zurich, Switzerland.

World hurdles champion Tobi Amusan has announced that she has been charged by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for missing dope tests which could lead to suspensions and her potentially missing the World Athletics Championships in Budapest next month.

The Nigerian athlete said AIU found her in violations of missing three drug tests in the last 12 months.

According to the rules of AIU, an organization founded to fight doping in athletics, three whereabouts failures could lead to two years of ineligibility, although the accused could contend the sanction.

Amusan announced the sanction on Instagram first before AIU confirmed it in another press release.

The AIU confirms that it has today charged and provisionally suspended Tobi Amusan (NGR) for 3 Whereabouts Failures.

The Charge will be heard by the Disciplinary Tribunal and determined before the World Athletics Championships.

DETAILS HERE: https://t.co/Y8LF9j2o9f pic.twitter.com/raos85XDwR
— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) July 19, 2023

She denied the accusations, insisting she's a "clean athlete." She vows to clear her name and overturn the sanction.

"Today the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has charged me with an alleged rule violation for having 3 missed tests in 12 months," she said in a post on Instagram.

"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."

AIU charge put Amusan's performance under scrutiny

American sprint legend Michael Johnson came under fire last year for questioning the record set by Amusan in the semifinals of the World Athletic Championship. Amusan went on to win the competition with 12.06 seconds run.

Her camp and supporters explained that her record-breaking performance was only due to her apparel, which was the Adizero Avanti Tyo Tinman Elite shoes by Adidas.

The 26-year-old has won every international competition she's participated in. Under her name are gold or first-place finishes in World Championships, Diamond League, Commonwealth Games, African Games, and African Championships.