The world’s attention is focused on Tobi Amusan, the Nigerian phenom who holds the world record in the 100m hurdles, with the 2023 World Championships in Athletics just around the corner.
However, a cloud of doubts hangs over his participation because Amusan’s provisional suspension imposed by the Athletic Integrity Unit (AIU) for skipping three whereabouts tests in 12 months is still in force.
Under the AIU, a provisional suspension occurs when an athlete or other person is temporarily prohibited from participating in any athletic competition or activity pending the outcome of a hearing held under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules or Integrity Code of Conduct.
The AIU and the athlete camp have remained silent after making the official announcement of Amusan’s temporary ban in a brief statement on July 19.
But the days go by and with the World Championship drawing near, many fear for Amusan, who has been unequivocal about his innocence; e she stridently insisted that she was a clean athlete.
Seyi Ogundare, a track and field enthusiast living in the United States, empathizes with Amusan’s situation.
He acknowledges her remarkable record, but admits that she is currently on the wrong side of the law, even if her offense was unintentional.
“If it turns out that Amusan is not guilty and he ultimately competes at the World Championships, I think he should sue the AIU for playing on his emotions and denying him the right frame of mind to prepare for his title defense,” Mr. Ogundare said. he told Newslodge.
Furthermore, he emphasized the seriousness of Amusan’s situation: “This is not a case of a positive blood sample that one can successfully argue over mix-ups, prescriptions, or exploit any other legal loophole. This is a case of established failed tests, and the rule is clear about the repercussions. You can only argue for lesser penalties if you have a genuine case, but you can’t argue to be let go.”
For Beverley Agbakoba-Onyejianya, a professional sports and regulatory compliance lawyer, Amusan’s legal team bears the burden of proving her case, but she ruled out any possibility of the athlete bringing a legal case against the AIU for her situation. “Personally, I don’t think she should stop training while she tries to prove her case. It is unfortunate that these are old rules that have been around for a long time.
“All athletes, especially those of their caliber, know that these tests are done, either routinely or at on-the-spot checks, and missing them carries heavy penalties. These sanctions seem quite harsh for the laity and the media,” he told Newslodge.
She added, “Of course, we all support Amusan. He has made the country proud. It’s times like this, when athletes are at their peak, that they need to be even more careful. For me, I don’t think that what is happening now is something personal, so the media should not paint it like that.
“The rules are there, and all athletes must abide by them; that is what guarantees the integrity of sports.”
Whereabouts tests are a key part of the anti-doping process, allowing drug screeners to randomly test athletes anytime, anywhere in the world.
The widespread perception is that by failing to provide accurate and timely whereabouts information, athletes make it more difficult for testers to find and test them, potentially giving them an unfair advantage.
Rule
AIU rules state that an athlete who misses three whereabouts checks in 12 months is guilty of an anti-doping rule violation, and the penalty for this is a two-year ban. However, the AIU has the discretion to reduce the suspension to one year, depending on the degree of fault.
The key requirement in Rule 15 is that an athlete from a ‘Category A’ country (such as Amusan) must undergo at least three unannounced out-of-competition tests (urine and blood), carried out no less than 3 weeks in advance. difference, in the 10 months prior to a major event.
Only then can such athletes be eligible to represent their national team at the World Championships in Athletics or the Olympic Games. Trying to separate fact from emotion, the AIU earlier this month issued a statement; detailing its rigorous but transparent procedures.
Under its Registered Testing Pool (RTP), the AIU is responsible for testing elite international-level athletes, primarily those in the Top 10 of their discipline, both men and women, who are likely to enjoy success at major international events. . This is the category of Amusan.
This emphasis is directly related to the AIU’s testing plan in elite athletics (particularly the Olympic Games and World Championships, followed by the Diamond League): to uphold the integrity of the sport, specifically the finals and placings of podium.
Amusan’s case is not an isolated case. Several high-profile athletes, including Brianna McNeal, Christian Coleman, Salwa Eid Naser, Elijah Manangoi, Wilson Kipsang and Raven Saunders, have previously faced suspensions for tripping over the whereabouts proof threshold.
A physician and sports medicine expert, Jimi Osinaike, in an interview with Newslodge, detailed the importance of out-of-competition testing and why the AIU seems so strict about it.
“What the law says is that if you have three consecutive failures, then you have committed an infraction. “If you have a non-analytical testing violation, what the rules say is you can get up to two years, and one case that comes to mind is Chris Coleman, who missed the Tokyo Olympics due to whereabouts testing. , for which it was banned for two years.
“As we all know, when it comes down to it, the AIU rarely goes wrong or loses. So, we’re just hoping at this point that Tobi Amusan’s lawyers can prove a point. I read somewhere that he agreed that he missed three exams. So, I mean, if she has admitted to that, then the case is already closed, but some may argue that AIU had regularly vetted her before, but the rules clearly state that.”
Coe’s body language
While the final verdict in Amusan’s case remains to be seen, recent remarks by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe raise pertinent questions about the athlete’s situation. Me Coe’s candid comments underscore a sense of disbelief regarding athletes who criticize the fairness of the system. He noted: “The vast majority of athletes who don’t cheat don’t have problems with the tracking system.
“The theme is very simple. They are asked to identify for an hour a day where they are going to be and I don’t think that is brain surgery.
“The same athletes who are complaining about whereabouts are posting every hour of the day. I accept that things can change, but you have the opportunity to connect and explain where you will be. All the athletes I know take this seriously.
“Sorry, it’s not that complicated. I think it gives confidence. Our sport has improved its reputation more than any other sport in the last two years by far, and our reputation has come back because we have been prepared to address doping-related issues.
“Making the Athletics Integrity Unit independent, removing the politics, has created systems that are doing what they were supposed to do.”
Amusan as a clean and precedent athlete
Amusan vehemently denies any wrongdoing and has announced his intention to appeal the provisional suspension. He said: “I am a CLEAN ATHLETE, and I am regularly; (perhaps more than usual) tested by the AIU. I was tested a few days after my third ‘missed test’. I have FAITH that this will be resolved in my favor.”
He Nigerian Athletics Federation (AFN) stands firm by Amusan’s side, awaiting the outcome of the Disciplinary Committee’s deliberations. AFN President Tonobok Okowa expressed his hope for a speedy resolution, saying: “Our prayer now is that the AIU gives Tobi a speedy hearing. If he receives authorization before the World Championships, then he will be able to compete for us. But I’m really worried,” he told The Guardian Newspapers just after Amusan’s provisional suspension was announced.
Samuel Onikeku, Technical Director of the Federation is also hopeful of a positive resolution in Amusan’s case.
At last year’s World Championships in Eugene, Oregon Eugene, Amusan surprised fans and opponents alike when he broke the world record in the 100m hurdles semifinals in a time that was the biggest improvement to a world record in the event in 42 years. He then ran a faster time in the final 90 minutes, only to have an illegal wind make him unreadable.
Though not yet close to that peak performance, Amusan has set records at the Commonwealth Games, Diamond League and All-Nigeria Championships. As the countdown to the World Championship continues, Amusan’s fate for now hangs in the balance.
If convicted, she not only faces the possibility of missing the prestigious event scheduled for August 19-27 in Budapest, Hungary, but also being banned from all international competitions until the AIU lifts her suspension.
There is a good precedent to build on, as the AFN hopes that the AIU will lift the ban on Amusan. In 2020, American 200m athlete Gabrielle Thomas had a similar ban lifted. She had also been detained by AIU for missing three whereabouts tests, but it proved to be a case of communication challenge with the approved tester.
“The telephone trace data and multiple witnesses will conclusively demonstrate that I was at the exact location I established my whereabouts and that the doping control officer simply failed to locate me and did not follow proper protocol,” Thomas said in the statement.
Amusan has made that excuse and only needs to prove that one of the three missing whereabouts proofs is inconclusive for her to have a case and have her ban lifted. Amusan argues that the tester didn’t do enough to contact her after she moved out of her apartment.
Amusan is said to have moved to a new apartment but did not communicate the address change to the AIU. When the tester did not see her at the old location, the person reported that she was not available for testing. The testing protocol includes phone calls/text messages to the athlete and a one-hour wait before the evaluator can report the athlete as unavailable.
Elite athletes have to be proactive
To avoid finding themselves in such unpleasant situations, sports medicine expert Osinaike advises athletes to always be proactive. “First, you need to find out if you are in the test group. If you are in the national testing pool, or your national testing pool, please confirm with your athletic federation and confirm those details with your national anti-doping organization. You will then need to familiarize yourself with the ADAM system and always be available with your whereabouts details.
“It could be very challenging for athletes to update that whereabouts system. If you’re an elite athlete who travels a lot and you have to focus a lot on your sports, what some athletes have done is give other people jobs to track all these tests and laws for them, while they focus on the sport.
“And if that has to be done, you have to choose a very trustworthy person, a person who understands the system and the rules, guidelines and all that stuff of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
“In short, there is no excuse for elite athletes to be found guilty or deficient when it comes to evidence of whereabouts,” he concluded.
Amusan and his legal team have less than 10 days to get his ban lifted and he can defend his title in Budapest.
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