The two-day finale, which began on Wednesday and concludes on Thursday, brings together some of the world’s finest athletes competing for top honours and a $50,000 prize in each discipline.
Amusan had qualified for the women’s 100m hurdles final as the second-ranked athlete this season with 27 points and also holds the meet record of 12.29 seconds, set in 2022 on her way to a second Diamond League crown. The 28-year-old is a three-time champion, having won the event in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Her withdrawal means Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas steps in as a replacement. Charlton will line up against reigning world champion Danielle Williams and her Jamaican compatriot Ackera Nugent, as well as Nadine Visser (Netherlands), Ditaji Kambundji and Selina von Jackowski (Switzerland), alongside Americans Tonea Marshall, Grace Stark, and Kendra Harrison.
Amusan’s absence comes just weeks before the World Championships in Tokyo, where she is expected to mount another title challenge. She appeared to struggle for form at the Lausanne Diamond League last week, where she clipped the first hurdle and finished fifth in 12.82 seconds.
In a related development, Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili was removed from the women’s 200m lineup despite hitting the qualification standard, sparking fresh debate about athlete participation rules.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will still be represented in Zurich. Ezekiel Nathaniel, the African record holder in the men’s 400m hurdles, is set to compete after notching his first professional career win in Lausanne last week with a time of 48.08 seconds. Rising star Udodi Onwuzurike, who debuted at the Diamond League only last week, is also listed in the men’s 200m final.