Tobi Amusan, a standout track athlete from Nigeria, has had her provisional suspension lifted following her acquittal from doping charges.
"A panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal, by majority decision, has today found that Tobi Amusan has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period," read an AIU statement released Thursday evening.
“AIU Head Brett Clothier has indicated the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is disappointed by this decision and will review the reasoning in detail before deciding whether to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within the applicable deadline."
“The decision is currently confidential but will be published in due course. Amusan’s provisional suspension has now been lifted with immediate effect.”
The Nigerian, who holds the record for the women's hurdles, was provisionally barred in July for failing three drug tests inside a year. If the accusations were upheld, she faced a two-year ban.
Her exclusion was considered as a devastating blow to Nigeria's chances of winning the tournament. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) decided not to include Amusan in the team that would represent the country at the World Athletics Championship, which will begin this coming Saturday.
But thanks to Thursday's turn of events, the medal contender will be present at the competition in Budapest.
Amusan had pledged to fight the suspension, saying she is a "clean athlete" despite the allegations.
She tweeted a few hours after the temporary suspension, "I am a CLEAN athlete, and I am regularly (maybe more than usual) tested by the AIU."
“Today, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has charged me with an alleged rule violation for having three missed tests in 12 months," Amusan said. “I intend to fight this charge and will have my case decided by a tribunal of three arbitrators before the start of next month’s World Championships.”
