Tobi Amusan, the suspended World 100m hurdles record holder, has been left off the Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s (AFN) list of athletes who would represent Nigeria at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The athletics body unveiled 22 athletes for the competition, which will take place from August 19 to 27, with Amusan conspicuously absent. All athletes who made their mark and met the required time during the AFN’s trial at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State, were listed for the Budapest championships.
Recall that the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had handed Amusan a provisional suspension for allegedly missing drug tests
AIU announced the sanction in a statement on its Twitter handle last month, saying the Nigerian superstar was suspended for three whereabouts failures.
Nigeria’s list is dominated by women led by Ese Brume, George Patience Okon, Success Umukoro, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Ruth Usoro.
Others are Deborah Oke, Imaobong Uko, Nse Uko and Pamela Amaechi.
Notable Nigerian male athletes like Itshekiri Usheoritshe, Ashe Favour, Seye Ogunlewe, Alaba Akintola, Fakorede Adekalu, Karlington Anunagba, and Enekwechi Chukwuebuka (Shot Put) were also listed for the competition.
Recall that at the 2022 World Athletics Championship in Oregon, USA, Nigeria finished joint 13th.
