By Daniel Edu
Tobi Amusan, the reigning World 100m women’s hurdles champion and record holder, is set to begin her quest to defend her title today at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary. The race is scheduled to kick off at 6:12pm, as indicated in the event’s schedule.
Last Thursday, Amusan received clearance from the Athletics Integrity Unit to participate in the championship. An appeals panel determined that she had not violated anti-doping rules despite missing three whereabouts tests within a 12-month period.
The 26-year-old athlete will compete in lane four and faces strong competition from Jamaica’s Olympic bronze medalist, Megan Tapper, who will be in lane five of the fifth and final heat of the first round.
Joining Amusan and Tapper in heat five are fellow hurdlers Maayke Tjin-a-lim, Michelle Jenneke, Yumi Tanaka, Natalia Christofi, Ebony Morrison, and Nika Glojnaric.
Looking back at the previous year, Amusan’s remarkable journey began with a time of 12.40 seconds in her heat, setting a new African record. She then achieved an extraordinary feat, surpassing Kendra Harrison’s world record of 12.20 seconds from 2016. This led her to clinch the 100m hurdles title at the World Championships in Oregon, USA, where she also secured a historic gold medal with a wind-aided time of 12.06 seconds, becoming the first Nigerian world outdoor champion.
While Amusan faced provisional suspension due to missed whereabouts tests last month, the Athletics Integrity Unit ultimately cleared her to defend her title in Budapest. In response to her clearance, Amusan expressed relief and determination to perform at her best.
“I am thrilled to put this behind me, and I look forward to defending my title at next week’s World Championships. I generally have been & consistently will be an ally of CLEAN SPORT. To my Five Fingers; God is the greatest & I genuinely appreciate y’all for the support,” Amusan conveyed in a statement after her exoneration.
