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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has handed Nigeria’s world record holder, Tobi Amusan, a provisional suspension for allegedly missing drug tests.
AIU announced the sanction in a statement on its Twitter account on Wednesday.
“The AIU confirms that it has today charged and provisionally suspended Tobi Amusan (NGR) for 3 Whereabouts Failures,” the statement read.
Amusan had earlier on Wednesday announced the charge brought against her by the AIU on her social media pages.
The 26-year-old said the AIU claimed she violated its rule by “missing three tests in 12 months.”
The Nigerian declared herself “a clean athlete” and vowed to challenge the allegations.
Amusan also said she was “tested within days” of her third alleged missed test.
The anti-doping body said Amusan’s charge will be heard by the disciplinary tribunal and determined before the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Hungary.
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.