Athletics
Morocco’s El Bakkali reigns supreme in men’s 3000m steeplechase
The men’s 3000m steeplechase final was going to be a duel between the world and Olympic champion versus the world record-holder. It was a close call.
The main actors in this show had only gone head-to-head once this season in Doha, where Lamecha Girma won, and both were the only two athletes in the line up to have run inside eight minutes this year.
Girma had smashed the world record at the Paris Diamond League in June, clocking an astonishing 7:52.11, and then refrained from racing. Two-time world gold medallist Soufiane El Bakkali competed in three more meetings, taking victories in each of them and looking set for a successful title defence.
Both looked good in the heats, but the final was an entirely different ballgame. In his usual style, the Olympic champion remained behind the pack while Girma, who was behind initially, began to make a move to the middle.
His Moroccan rival watched his every move, waiting for the right time to strike. At 1000m, El Bakkali made his way to the middle while Girma had moved to second place, and with four laps to go, the 27-year-old fell into third place in the line.
He took the bell, switching gears to go past the rest of the field. The 22-year-old left it too late before responding but El Bakkali was long gone, leading by almost 20 metres to claim a second successive world title in 8:03.53, while Girma was left to lick his wounds with a fourth consecutive global silver in 8:05.44.
Despite suffering a fall over one of the barriers, Commonwealth Games champion Abraham Kibiwot was able to pip his teammate Leonard Kipkemoi Bett to the bronze with 8:11.98.
Athletics
Behold, CAS statement on Tobi Amusan
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.
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!
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
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.
-
AFCON6 days ago
Super Eagles lead Afcon Group D qualifiers despite Benin’s defeat of Libya
-
AFCON5 days ago
Austin Eguavoen remains the ‘Big Boss’, says NFF
-
AFCON6 days ago
Why I benched Osimhen again – Eguavoen
-
AFCON4 days ago
Rwanda newspaper gives 5 lessons gleaned from Rwanda-Nigeria clash
-
Nigerian Football5 days ago
Westerhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job
-
AFCON6 days ago
Nigeria’s managerial crisis resumes as Eguavoen reportedly declines to continue
-
AFCON1 week ago
Hurray, Super Eagles back to winning ways!
-
AFCON4 days ago
Present and Past as CAF Coaches Symposium unites Rohr, Peseiro and Eguavoen