Sports

Nigeria’s medal hopes brighten as Tobi Amusan cleared to compete at WAC

Published

1 year ago

August 18, 2023

Nigeria's Tobi Amusan celebrating her record breaking feat (Photo Credit: Athletic World)

Chances of Nigeria winning medals at the World Athletics Championships starting this weekend in Budapest, Poland, have brightened following the lifting of the suspension on world and Commonwealth 100m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan, by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

Amusan was provisionally suspended by the anti-doping unit of the World Athletics Federation after she missed three tests.

However, Amusan had vowed to prove her innocence as a drug-free athlete and filed an appeal to clear her name. Following a hearing by a disciplinary tribunal, the 26-year-old was let off the hook and is now set to defend her world title.

This clearance will also provide Amusan with the opportunity to defend her world title at the African Championships, African Games, Commonwealth Games, and the Diamond League.

An official statement from the AIU on Thursday confirmed that Amusan had been cleared of the allegation that was levelled against her.

“A panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal, by majority decision, has today found that Tobi Amusan has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period,” the statement posted on the website of the AIU said.

However, the head of the AIU, Head Brett Clothier, has indicated the body is disappointed by the decision and will review the reasoning in detail before deciding whether to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within the applicable deadline.

The world champion who celebrated her upcoming participation at the championship, took to her Instagram page to say she was thrilled that the whole saga was now behind her.

“I’m thrilled to put this behind me and look forward to defending my title at next week’s World Championships,” she wrote.

Related Topics:AIU Doping Featured Tobi-Amusan World Athletics Federation

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Sports

TP Mazembe pip AS FAR to win African Women’s Champions League

Published

4 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Isaac Dachen

TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) became the third team to win the 2024 African Women’s Champions League after narrowly defeating AS FAR of Morocco 1-0 in the final played on Sunday at the El Jadida’s Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi Stadium.

TP Mazembe claimed the title for the first time courtesy of a 10th minute penalty which was converted by Marlene Kasaj after AS FAR captain Aziza Rabbah handled the ball in the box.

The Congolese side should have doubled their lead six minutes later when an unmarked Merveille Kanjinga fired wide from seven yards out before the more fancied home team gradually grew into the match and looked to cancel the deficit and add to their continental triumph in 2022.

But AS FAR put in a subdued display and failed to test Mazembe’s goalkeeper Fideline Ngoy, with tournament top scorer Doha El Madani who had netted six goals in their run to the final, wasting their best chance as she sliced a first-half free-kick wide.

With the triumph, TP Mazembe carted home the giant trophy and a cheque for $600,000 (£479,000) after the prize money was increased for the fourth edition of the tournament, while the AS FAR went home with $400,000 (£319,000).

Sports

Wafcon 2024 draw throws up interesting pairings

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The draw for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) holding in Morocco from July 5 to 26 next year which was held on Friday, threw up some interesting match-ups to look forward to as hosts Morocco found themselves in what has been described as the group of death.

The Atlas Lionesses will have to contend with Zambia, DR Congo and Senegal in Group A, while Group B has record 11-time continental champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria slugging it out with Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana, just as current defending champions, Banyana Banyana of South Africa will do battle with Ghana, Mali and Tanzania in Group C.

The top two sides in each group will progress to the quarter-finals, alongside the two best third-placed finishers.

Though qualification for the 2024 Wafcon was completed in December last year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was forced to push the finals into 2025 because of international football’s congested calendar, which included the participation of Nigeria and Zambia at the Olympics.

Morocco also staged the 2022 edition of Wafcon, ending as runners-up, and former international Fatiha Laassiri believes home support will provide “a real advantage” next year.

Wafcon 2024 group draw with world ranking in brackets:

Group A: Morocco (hosts, 59), Zambia (62), Senegal (83), DR Congo (102).

Group B: Nigeria (36), Tunisia (78), Algeria (84), Botswana (153).

Group C: South Africa (holders, 50), Ghana (66), Mali (81), Tanzania (145).