As Nigerians eagerly await the Athletics Integrity Unit’s decision on women’s 100m hurdles world record holder Tobi Amusan, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria says the verdict will be issued in the next six days, ahead of the 2023 World Championships, which will be held in Budapest, Hungary, from August 19 to 27.
With only eight days until the championships, Amusan’s prospects of defending the crown she earned in Oregon last year are in jeopardy when the AIU suspended her last month for failing three test.
The AFN released the list of athletes that would represent the country at the championships on Tuesday, with the world champion excluded, although The PUNCH learnt her name was on the entry list sent to the World Athletics by the AFN.
Her name was also published among athletes for the Games by the World Athletics on Thursday but pending AIU ruling.
Technical Director of the AFN Samuel Onikeku also revealed that the hurdler is likely to defend her title once she is cleared by the AIU.
“We are waiting for the ruling of the AIU and it will be before the start of the championship. Once she is cleared, we believe that she will compete. We believe in the next six days, we should get the ruling,” Onikeku said.
He also said that the 26 athletes that would represent the country at the championships will not be camped but rather converge on Budapest to put finishing touches to their preparations.
“The athletes are converging on Budapest already. Every preparation has been going on and they will mostly be doing relay practices. Most of them have their personal coaches which we allow them to train with. Everyone will be in Budapest days before the competition starts.”
Amusan and long jumper, Ese Brume, won Nigeria’s only two medals at the championships last year. She raced to a new world record time of 12.12secs in the semi-finals, before running 12.06secs in the final to clinch the gold medal and become Nigeria’s first ever world champion and record holder in athletics while Brume got a silver medal in the long jump event.