Nigeria’s sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan has withdrawn from the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2025 Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich.
Amusan, the world record holder and three-time Diamond League champion, had been aiming for an unprecedented fourth crown on Thursday but has been replaced by Bahamian star Devynne Charlton, the reigning World Indoor 60m hurdles champion.
No official statement has been issued by the Diamond League organisers, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, or Tobi Amusan herself regarding her sudden exclusion despite qualifying for the final.
Her absence leaves Nathaniel Ezekiel and Udodi Onwuzurike as the country’s only representatives at the iconic Letzigrund Stadium.
Tobi Amusan’s name is missing in the Diamond League finals list. Photo Credit: Diamond League web
The 22-year-old Onwuzurike will line up in a star-studded men’s 200m final featuring Olympic champion Noah Lyles, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, and Dominican sprinter Alexander Ogando.
He secured his spot in Zurich after a third-place finish in Brussels and late withdrawals from other qualifiers.
Onwuzurike has also booked his ticket to the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, qualifying through the updated world rankings.
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The sprinter, who has posted a season’s best of 20.17s, is currently Nigeria’s highest-ranked athlete in the 200m and will be making his second Diamond League appearance in Zurich.
Nigeria’s Onwuzurike in action against Botswana Letshile Tebogo. Photo Credit:X
Ezekiel, also 22, has enjoyed a breakthrough season, breaking Nigeria’s 400m hurdles national record five times in 2025, with a best of 47.31s in Silesia the fifth-fastest in the world this year.
The Baylor University athlete enters the Zurich final following the withdrawals of Olympic champion Rai Benjamin and world leader Alison dos Santos.
Ezekiel Nathaniel during his time at Baylor University. Photo Credit: X
Norway’s Karsten Warholm, the world record holder and season leader, headlines the men’s 400m hurdles field. No Nigerian has ever reached the podium in the Zurich men’s final.
Each Diamond League event winner will earn $50,000, the largest single prize in the competition’s history. For Onwuzurike and Ezekiel, Zurich offers not only a chance at glory but also preparation ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
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Both Nigerians will compete on Thursday evening, with Ezekiel scheduled for 8:44 p.m. Nigerian time before Onwuzurike rounds off the country’s campaign in the 200m at 9:39 p.m.
