Botswana’s Nijel Amos provisionally suspended for doping – AIU
Botswana’s Nijel Amos provisionally suspended for doping – AIU – Botswana’s Nijel Amos has been provisionally suspended ahead of next week’s World Championships after the 2012 Olympics 800 metres silver medalist tested positive for a banned metabolite, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said on Tuesday.
Amos was notified of the result while in Eugene, Oregon, where he was scheduled to compete in the 800m heats on July 20.
“The AIU has provisionally suspended Nijel Amos of Botswana with immediate effect after an out-of-competition sample collected from the athlete tested positive for Metabolites of GW1516, a prohibited substance under 2022 WADA Prohibited List. Press release.
The WADA accredited laboratory that analysed the sample notified the AIU of the adverse analytical finding on 12 July 2022.”
The AIU has provisionally suspended Nijel Amos of Botswana with immediate effect after an out-of-competition sample collected from the athlete tested positive for Metabolites of GW1516, a prohibited substance under 2022 WADA Prohibited List.
Press release: https://t.co/7ERRMkeFXK pic.twitter.com/F7RaSuday3— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) July 12, 2022
The drug found in the 28-year-old’s system, GW1516, “modifies how the body metabolizes fat,” and the World Anti-Doping Agency has said it poses a health risk to athletes, AIU said in a release
Amos could not be immediately reached for comment.
Full Release
PRESS RELEASE
NIJEL AMOS OF BOTSWANA PROVISIONALLY SUSPENDED AFTER
TESTING POSITIVE
12 JULY, MONACO: The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has today provisionally suspended Nijel
Amos of Botswana with immediate effect after a sample collected from the 800m runner tested
positive for Metabolites of GW1516, a substance that is prohibited under the 2022 WADA Prohibited
List as a metabolic modulator. Substances in this category modify how the body metabolizes fat
and GW1516 was originally synthesized and evaluated for the treatment of obesity, diabetes and
other disorders caused by metabolic problems. GW1516 is not an approved substance for human
use and WADA has advised of its health risks for athletes.
GW1516 is a non-Specified Substance on the 2022 WADA Prohibited list and a provisional suspension
is mandatory following an adverse analytical finding for such substance under the World Athletics
Anti-Doping Rules.
The AIU collected the sample from Mr Amos during an out-of-competition test on the 4 June 2022.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory that analysed the sample notified the
AIU of the adverse analytical finding today, 12 July 2022.
The athlete was notified of the adverse analytical finding and his mandatory provisional suspension
this afternoon in Eugene. He was scheduled to participate in the 800m heats on 20 July.
The AIU will make no further comment on the matter at this time.
– ENDS –
His silver from the London Games was Botswana’s first Olympic medal. The African nation added a bronze in the 4x400m relay at the Tokyo Games last year.