Athletics | Hurdle world record holder is allowed to start

Nigerian world hurdles record holder Tobi Amusan is allowed to defend her 100m hurdles title at the World Championships in Budapest, which begins on Saturday, after her provisional suspension for anti-doping rule violations was lifted.

Although, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the 26-year-old could not be reached for an unannounced doping test three times within a year, contrary to the regulations, Amusan “committed no violation of the rules” for the disciplinary tribunal.

“We are disappointed with the decision,” said AIU Director Brett Clothier. His organization reserves the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Clothier said.

Amusan, who set her world record of 12.12 seconds at the World Championships in Eugene a year ago, was suspended at the beginning of the second half of July. The African has since maintained that she made no mistakes: “I’m a clean athlete and I’m tested regularly by the AIU, maybe more often than usual – I was tested within days of my third ‘missed test’. I’ve belief that things will be decided in my favor and that I can compete at the World Championships in August.”

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