The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has taken the decision to provisionally suspend Nigerian track and field athlete, Tobi Amusan, for three missed whereabouts failures.
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The suspension was announced after it was discovered that Amusan had missed three drug tests within a 12-month period. This charge could result in a two-year suspension, even if an athlete has never failed a drug test.
In a statement on Twitter, the AIU said the charge will be heard by the Disciplinary Tribunal and determined before the World Athletics Championships.
The AIU, which is responsible for overseeing anti-doping measures in athletics worldwide, has strict rules and regulations in place to ensure the integrity of the sport and maintain a level playing field for all athletes. One of these rules requires athletes to submit their whereabouts information, including their daily location and availability for testing, to the AIU’s Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS).
Failure to provide accurate and timely whereabouts information can result in sanctions, and in Amusan’s case, the three whereabouts failures have led to her provisional suspension from competitions. The AIU’s decision will be further investigated and reviewed in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code.
Tobi Amusan, 26, is the women’s hurdles world record holder who has represented Nigeria in numerous international competitions. Her suspension comes as a significant blow to her career and raises questions about the importance of complying with anti-doping regulations.
In reaction to the charge, Amusan vowed to resolve the charges against her before this year’s competition, which will be place in Budapest next month.
She said, “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.”
According to the AIU, an athlete who misses tests within a period of 12 months is guilty of anti-doping rule violation, and the penalty includes suspension for two years, which may be reduced to a minimum of one year depending on the degree of fault.
Missing three doping tests can result in a two-year ban, though exceptions can be made for different circumstances.
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