Athletics
ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon: Nigerian elite runners chase $10,000 top prize
The highly anticipated ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon, slated for December 16, 2023, has attracted a formidable lineup of Nigeria’s top athletes, all vying for their share of the impressive prize pool.
The December race, featuring both a half marathon and a 5km road race, offers enticing cash prizes for top finishers, with the half marathon winner taking home a staggering $10,000.
Leading the charge of Nigerian athletes hoping to outshine their counterparts from across the sub-region is the trio of Mu’azu Adamu Shehu, Gyang Emmanuel, and Ismail Sadjo.
Adam Shehu, Gyang, and Sadjo are among the cream of Nigeria’s elite runners, and they are all eager to pocket the $10,000 top prize up for grabs in the men’s half marathon category.
Fondly referred to as Shagari, Adamu Shehu has excelled in numerous road races across Nigeria, including the Lagos City Marathon where he finished as the best local runner in the 2022 edition.
Gyang has also paid his dues with impressive performances at the Lagos City Marathon and the Okepepe 10km race, where he is the reigning Nigerian champion.
Sadjo is fresh from his triumph at the Warri Effurun Peace Marathon and is hoping to end the year on a high with another victory at the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon.
It is expected that the likes of Okot Friday, Joshua Dalyop Stephen, Pam James Paul, Auta Monday Jigak, and Yohanna Friday, among others, will also ruffle feathers at the December 16 race.
In a similar vein, a close contest is also anticipated in the women’s category, where old-war horse Pam Deborah will be running against the likes of Nuhu Elizabeth.
Aside from winning multiple road races across Nigeria, Pam is also a multiple Nigerian 5,000 and 10,000m champion, and she hopes to make it a memorable yuletide season with the princely ECOWAS prize monies.
Nuhu has often given Pam a run for her money at every race they find themselves in, but many believe the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon will not be about these two as many other budding athletes have also confirmed their participation.
Athletics
Behold, CAS statement on Tobi Amusan
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/amusan-2.jpg)
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan is the winner as the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS has rejected the appeals filed by World Athletics and WADA.
The decision confirms the decision taken by the World Athletics disciplinary tribunal finding that Tobi Amusan did not commit any anti-doping rule violation.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CAS_Media_Release_9992_10067__final_-1-640x1024.jpg?resize=640%2C1024&ssl=1)
Here is the full statement of CAS.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeals filed by
World Athletics (WA) and by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the decision issued on 17 August 2023 (the Challenged Decision) by the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal (WADT) in relation to the hurdler Oluwatobiloba (Tobi) Amusan (Nigeria).
Accordingly, the Challenged Decision in which the WADT considered that Tobi Amusan did not violate Rule 2.4 of the WA Anti-Doping Rules (WA ADR) and that no period of ineligibility should be imposed on the Athlete is confirmed.
The Athlete was initially charged with committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under Rule 2.4 WA ADR following three alleged Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period.
In their respective appeal to CAS, WA and WADA had sought the imposition of a two-year period of ineligibility. The CAS Panel held a hearing on 19 January 2024. Having deliberated, the CAS Panel has issued its decision today dismissing both appeals. The CAS Panel unanimously acknowledged that the Athlete committed two filing failures but did not confirm the existence of a missed test, alleged by WA and WADA, which would have been the third Whereabouts Failure committed within a 12-month
period. Accordingly, the CAS Panel concluded that the Athlete did not commit an ADRV and that the Challenged Decision should be confirmed.
The reasoned award will be published by CAS unless the parties request confidentiality.
Athletics
Tobi Amusan floors WADA and World Athletics!
![Tobi Amusan’s Trial Begins Today -](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Tobi-Amusans-Trial-Begins-Today.jpg)
Nigeria’s Paris 2024 medal hopeful, Tobi Amusan has been cleared as the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has dismissed the appeal filed by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the World Athletics.
She is therefore cleared to feature at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Amusan is the 100m hurdles world record holder.
The athlete was charged in July last year with missing three anti-doping tests in 12 months but was cleared of the offence by the Disciplinary Tribunal of the sport’s governing body, World Athletics.
The Integrity Unit of the World Athletics appealed the clearance which has now been dismissed by CAS, the final arbiter in the case.
CAS in its statement remarked that its panel “unanimously acknowledged that the athlete committed two filing failures but did not confirm the existence of a missed test, alleged by WA and WADA, which would have been the third Whereabouts Failure committed within 12 months.”
Amusan set the world record of 12.12 seconds in the world championships in Eugene, Oregon, in July 2022 and went on to win the title.
She finished sixth in the world championships in Budapest last year.
World Athletics’ anti-doping rules say any athlete failing to declare their whereabouts for a doping test on three occasions over 12 months is ineligible to compete for two years.
Athletics
Tobi Amusan thanks God for success at CAS in doping case
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/amusan-2.jpg)
An elated Nigeria’s 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan has thanked God for her success in an appeal filled against her by the Athletics Integrity Unit of the World Athletics.
Had the appeal been upheld, ,Amusan would have has to miss the Paris 2024 Olymoics.
“It’s ALL GOD” Amusan said in an Instagram post alongside the court’s announcement.
Amusan, who broke the world record during her semi-final race at the 2022 world championships, is a hot favourite in her signature event at the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26.
World Athletics and WADA did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
-
TRANSFER MARKET3 days ago
Points of Interest as Napoli’s coach apologises to Victor Osimhen
-
Badminton1 week ago
American beats Nigeria’s Segun Obasanjo
-
TRANSFER MARKET1 week ago
Transfer market still bubbling as Chelsea agents lands in Napoli for Osimhen
-
TRANSFER MARKET1 week ago
BREAKING! Osimhen is left stranded! Future remains uncertain
-
TRANSFER MARKET5 days ago
Lukaku pays respect to Osimhen
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
As in 1974 , 1995 and 2005 another coach, Labbadia disappears from Nigeria’s national team job
-
PARALYMPICS5 days ago
How Mikano powered Eniola to Nigeria’s first medal at Paris 2024
-
AFCON1 week ago
Interim Commander, Eguavoen opens up on his plans for Super Eagles