Diamond League Final Drama: Tension rises as Amusan withdraws, Ofili delisted

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

The final event started on Wednesday and ends on Thursday, with some of the world’s best athletes competing for a $50,000 prize in different disciplines.

Amusan qualified as the second-best athlete in her event this season with 27 points but has now withdrawn. She has been replaced by Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas.

The line-up now includes Charlton, world champion Danielle Williams, Ackera Nugent of Jamaica, Nadine Visser of the Netherlands, Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji and Selina von Jackowski, along with Americans Tonea Marshall, Grace Stark and Kendra Harrison.

Amusan still holds the meet record with a time of 12.29 seconds, which she set in September 2022 when she won her second Diamond League title.

The 28-year-old has won the competition three times in a row — 2021, 2022 and 2023. Her withdrawal may be to prepare for the World Championships taking place next month in Tokyo.

In her last race at the Lausanne Diamond League, she stumbled at the first hurdle and finished fifth with a time of 12.82 seconds.

In another development, Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has been removed from the women’s 200m event despite meeting the qualifying standard.

Meanwhile, African record holder in the men’s 400m hurdles, Ezekiel Nathaniel, will compete in Zurich. He recently won his first professional race in Lausanne with a time of 48.08 seconds.

Another Nigerian, Udodi Onwuzurike, who made his Diamond League debut last week, is also listed for the men’s 200m final.