Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Tonobok Okowa, said Tobi Amusan beating the world’s very best at the weekend to win her third Diamond League title was a big boost to her career and Nigerian athletics.
Amusan, bugged down by her issues with the World Athletes Athletes Integrity Unit over missed “whereabout” tests, failed to defend her 100mH title at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. But running at the Diamond League final at the Hayward Field Stadium, Eugene, Oregon, USA, she posted 12.33secs to dust the very women who consigned her to a fourth finish in Budapest.
The Hayward Field Stadium, Eugene, Oregon,was the same venue Amusan ran 12.12secs to set a new world record and also won the 100mH title. Two months ahead of the Budapest 2023 Worlds, she was given a provisional suspension by the AIU, but a few days to the Championships, she was cleared to run, but it was too late to get herself ready for the competition,she stopped training after the suspension.
“Oh my God! I am so happy that she has bounced back in great fashion.”
“Beating Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto -Rico second: 12.38 seconds and American Kendra Harrison 12.44 seconds, Danielle Williams 12.47 seconds is not cheap, she deserves all the accolades there is,” an elated Okowa said.
“Everyone can see that she beat the Budapest World Championship winning time.
“Despite losing at the World event in Budapest, Tobi did not lose hope, she started preparing hard and her new victory at the Diamond League is an indication that she would have done better in Budapest if not for the psychological trauma she faced with the Athletics Integrity Unit, AIU.
“We are very proud of her at the AFN and will continue to support and encourage her always.”
