The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) did not include world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles Tobi Amusan in its list of Team Nigeria representatives of 26 athletes submitted to the World Athletics Championships on Tuesday.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) provisionally suspended Amusan last month for missing three drug tests this season.
While the AIU also stated that there would be a hearing on her case before the World Championships, she also vowed to fight the charges and prove her innocence.
On Team Nigeria’s list are 11 male and 15 female athletes for the championships, which is to hold from August 19 to 27 in Budapest, Hungary.
Silver medallist at last year’s championships Ese Brume will hope to upgrade to a gold in Budapest. She will be joined in the long jump event by Ruth Usoro. Sade Olatoye (Hammer) and Chioma Onyekwere (Discus) are also among the prominent females on the AFN list.
READ ALSO:
Tobi Amusan vows to ‘fight’ alleged anti-doping violation charge
Tobi Amusan sets new record, wins 100m hurdles at Silesia Diamond League
National champion Usheoritshe Itshekiri, Favour Ashe, Seye Ogunlewe, Alaba Akintola, Fakorede Adekalu and Anunagba Karlington will be spread across the men’s 100m and 4x100m relay races, just as Rosemary Chukwuma, Favour Ofili, Faith Okwose, Justina Eyakpobeyan and Success Umukoro will compete in the women’s 100m and 4x100m event.
Speaking with PUNCH, technical director of the AFN Samuel Onikeku said: “We have perfected the list and it has been released. But unfortunately, it is the AIU who can comment on Amusan’s case.”
However, the newspaper learnt from sources at the AFN that Amusan’s name was included on the list sent to the World Athletics with the hope that the hurdler would be cleared to compete before the start of the championships.
