Tobi Amusan Withdraws From Diamond League Final In Zurich

World record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, has pulled out of the final of this year’s Diamond League in Zurich, The PUNCH reports.

The season-ending event kicked off on Wednesday and concludes Thursday, featuring some of the world’s top athletes competing for a $50,000 prize in key disciplines.

Amusan had qualified as the second-best athlete in the 100m hurdles this season, earning 27 points, but has now been replaced by the Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton.

The final field in the women’s 100m hurdles now includes Charlton, reigning world champion Danielle Williams, Jamaican Ackera Nugent, Dutch runner Nadine Visser, Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji and Selina von Jackowski, alongside Americans Tonea Marshall, Grace Stark, and Kendra Harrison.

Amusan also holds the meet record of 12.29s, set in September 2022 when she claimed her second Diamond League title. The 28-year-old has won three consecutive Diamond League titles in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Her withdrawal is seen as a strategic move to prepare for next month’s World Championships in Tokyo, especially after she appeared to stumble over the first hurdle in her last race at the Lausanne Diamond League, finishing fifth with a time of 12.82s.

In related news, Nigeria-born sprinter Favour Ofili, now representing Turkey, has been removed from the women’s 200m despite meeting the qualifying standard.

Meanwhile, African record holder in the men’s 400m hurdles, Ezekiel Nathaniel, will compete for the Diamond League title in Zurich, having recorded his first professional win at last week’s Lausanne Diamond League in 48.08s.

Udodi Onwuzurike, who made his Diamond League debut in Lausanne, is also listed for the men’s 200m final.