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The World Indoor Championship kicks off this weekend in Glasgow, but many big guns including Tobi Amusan will be missing.
Nigeria’s Queen of Track and Field Tobi Amusan, as earlier reported by Pulse Sports had said her sights were on the World Indoor record after clocking 60mH African Record.
However, in a new twist of event, the Ogun state-born athlete has now pulled out of the World Indoor Championships that holds from Friday, March 1 to Sunday, 3rd.
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10:17 - 26.02.2024
World Indoor Championships: Tobi Amusan missing, Nigeria now depends on Ese Brume to make history
There will be no World Indoor Championship history for Tobi Amusan, as Ese Brume remains Nigeria's only medal hopeful and Ruth Usoro also missing from entry list.
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14:24 - 27.01.2024
AFRICAN RECORD: Tobi Amusan blasts to ground-breaking win to kickoff 2024 season in Astana
Running in her first competition of the year, Tobi Amusan blazed to an exceptional win and broke a 25-year-old African Record in the process.
In the absence of Tobi Amusan, Nigeria would be banking on the brilliant Ese Brume to bring home Gold, after winning silver in the last edition.
That being said, let's delve into some of the interesting, maybe controversial reasons why Nigeria's Track and Field Queen would be absent in Glasgow, Scotland.
1. Pending case with AIU and CAS
Recall that Tobi Amusan came under the hammer last season when the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) provisionally suspended the 26-year-old Nigerian for missing three whereabouts tests.
However, after an appeal, the suspension was lifted by a Disciplinary Tribunal which cleared her to participate at the World Championship.
Although Tobi Amusan got to the final, it ended in disappointment as she failed to make a podium finish - coming a distant sixth.
Amusan would later recover to end the season on a high, winning the Diamond League in Eugene for a record third time.
Meanwhile, the AIU again determined to nail Tobi Amusan appealed the verdict and took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
And although the case has taken place, the details hasn't been made public.
If the CAS clears Tobi Amusan, she would be free to take part in any events. However, if the verdict doesn't go in her favour, she might face a lengthy ban and also lose any title she has previously won.
So to be on the safer side, Amusan is not taking part in the World Indoor Championships.
2. Tobi Amusan didn't meet up with her ‘coach clause’
Heading to the World Indoor Championships, Tobi Amusan's coach urged her to run the African record of 7.7 seconds three times.
Unfortunately, Amusan could only run 7.7 seconds twice, and 7.8 seconds once.
So she couldn't meet up with the standard set by her coach going into the World Indoor Championships. This could have contributed to Amusan pulling out of the competition.
3. Devynne Charlton, not Tobi Amusan is favourite for the World title
I'm pretty sure many would have jumped to read this first. Yes, Tobi Amusan is not in pole position to win this year's World Indoor Championship.
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10:37 - 18.09.2023
Tobi Amusan back with a bang: Nigerian Track and Field Queen makes Diamond League history
Nigeria’s Queen of Track and Field Tobi Amusan, set a new record by winning her race in the just concluded Diamond League (Eugene 2023).
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10:34 - 24.09.2023
Tobi Amusan smiles to the bank, earns N55 million after Diamond League success
Nigeria’s Track and Field Queen Tobi Amusan has deepened her purse after she pocketed tens of millions for her success at the Diamnd League.
Bahamas Devynne Charlton is the athlete to beat, owing to the fact that she's the World Record holder.
Not only that, she's the only athlete, asides USA's Tia Jones to have run 7.6 seconds twice going into the competition. It's advantage Devynne Charlton since Tia Jones won't be participating at the World Indoor Championship.
Tobi Amusan won't want to lose a major final at this early stage of the season, as this can affect her morale going into the Olympics later this year in Paris.
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