Amusan unfazed by AIU appeal

Tobi Amusan, a former world champion and three-time Diamond League winner, appears unperturbed by the recent challenge to her racing status by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). The AIU has appealed the decision of their disciplinary panel to clear her of doping violations.

Amusan had been provisionally suspended by the AIU due to three whereabouts failures within a year. However, a disciplinary panel overturned this suspension, enabling her to compete at the World Championships last month, where she finished sixth.

Despite the AIU’s announcement of an appeal against her clearance, the Nigerian hurdler is focused on the factors contributing to her consecutive Diamond League victories.

On Tuesday, she shared a picture collage of her Diamond League wins in 2021, 2022, and 2023 on social media. She captioned it, “All glory to El Roi. Keeping my natural hair for every Diamond League final may have its own good luck effect too.”

The AIU’s decision to appeal Amusan’s clearance has sparked criticism and controversy. Many have questioned the timing of the appeal and its potential impact on her career.

Journalist Osasu Obayiuwana expressed deep concern, saying, “It’s beyond comprehension, to my mind, that the AIU has no confidence in its own disciplinary committee to come to a fair and just ruling. Clearly, some people at the AIU are determined that Amusan has to be nailed to the ‘drugs cheat’ cross, by any means necessary. I find this deeply disturbing.”

Fans have also voiced their support for Amusan and criticized the AIU’s actions. One fan stated, “When she came sixth at the world athletic championships, you kept quiet. Now that she proved herself by winning the diamond league in a star-studded field, you suddenly remember to file an appeal in order to wreck her career. It’s clear now that you are jealous of her dominance.”

Another fan called for transparency, saying, “You will never succeed in bringing her down. You didn’t appeal the decision to clear Gabby Thomas; you also banned the Mexican athlete that tested positive for cocaine for just six months to show how biased you are. It’s time to come after AIU & expose all the cover-up doping cases.”

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