Elias Gora, a retired sports administrator, said on Wednesday that Tobi Amusan should be blamed for her suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), noting that the unit did the right thing at the right time.

Gora, a former secretary-general of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), said this in an interview where he spoke about Amusan’s suspension by the AIU.

Amusan’s travails started when AIU suspended her for missing three drug tests within 12 months, which attracts a two-year suspension.

“Now, should the federation be blamed? I don’t think so,” said Gora. “She is an adult who knows what is good for her. I wouldn’t want to blame the federation for that; her address is there, and she put herself in a very difficult situation.”

If the suspension is not overturned, Amusan could miss the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, from August 19 to 27, as the global body has debunked reports that she had been cleared to participate in the championships.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria excluded Amusan’s name from the competition, as she is currently under doping investigation by the AIU.

Gora said, “She has to face the penalty by missing the World Championships, which is what matters the most; it’s a blow to Nigeria and a blow to her in particular not to make the mark when it matters.

“As an athlete of her repute, the federation was supposed to keep watch over her commitment to the world body as well as anti-doping rules, but she reserves the right to either show up or not.”

Gora, the Chef de Mission at the 2010 New Delhi Games in India, said participating in the World Championship remained the apex for any athlete of repute.

“AIU has your details; those people always make an effort to ensure that they contact you. So, Tobi did this to herself, knowing the stipulations and the consequences; I wish the rest of the contingent success,” he said.

(NAN)