Tobi Amusan, the reigning champion with a world record of 12.12 seconds, secured her place in the semi-finals of the women’s 100 metres hurdles in Budapest. Despite a slow start, Amusan finished with a time of 12.48 seconds, ranking as the third-fastest time of the evening.
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to compete, Amusan stated, “I’m thankful to be here in Budapest, using my talent on the track. It hasn’t been easy, but I’m here. I focused on staying relaxed despite the uncertainties and followed my coach’s guidance. That’s how I’ve made it to this point.”
In the heats, Kendra Harrison from the U.S. set a world-leading time of 12.24 seconds, claiming the top position.
Reflecting on her remarkable performance, Harrison mentioned, “I can’t fully grasp how I managed it; I need to review the race. Our hurdles team in the U.S. is incredibly competitive, making our event thrilling. Hopefully, we can secure a podium sweep.”
Nia Ali, Harrison’s teammate and the 2019 gold medallist who experienced an early exit last year, also progressed by winning her heat in 12.55 seconds.
Amusan’s presence at the global event came as a surprise, as her suspension was lifted just two days prior to the competition’s start. The 26-year-old athlete, who set the world record during last year’s semi-finals, had a provisional anti-doping suspension revoked the previous Thursday. Nonetheless, there is a possibility of an appeal that might reinstate the ban.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had provisionally suspended Amusan due to three instances of whereabouts failures within a year. However, the AIU’s disciplinary tribunal panel overturned the decision.
AIU Chairman David Howman indicated that the specifics of her case would be released on the AIU’s website, possibly as soon as Wednesday. The AIU has a 30-day window to determine whether to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
