Budapest 2023: Tobi Amusan fails to defend 100m hurdles title, finishes 6th

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan was unable to defend her world women’s 100-meter hurdles title after finishing sixth in the event’s final at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. 

The Nigerian finished far behind the leading pack in the final on Thursday at the National Athletics Centre, Budapest, Hungary.

Amusan dipped 12.62 seconds in a distanced position behind Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, who took the title after clocking 12.43 seconds.

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico won silver with 12.44 seconds, while Keni Harrison took the bronze in 12.46 seconds.

The 27-year-old Nigerian was the defending champion after winning the world title last year in Eugene, Oregon, where she set a new world record with 12.12 seconds in the semi-final of the event.

However, Amusan’s preparation for Budapest 2023 was hampered by controversy.

In July, she was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unity (AIU) for allegedly “missing three tests in 12 months”.

Consequently, the world champion was excluded from the 26-athlete team submitted by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for the championship.

But three days before the commencement of the competition, Amusan was cleared of the charges, and the suspension was lifted.