Amos’ agonising 8-month wait
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday April 1, 2023 06:00
A few days before the 2022 World Athletics Championships that were staged in Oregon, the United States of America in July, the hearts of Batswana sunk after the 800m star, Amos tested positive for a banned substance. Athletics Integrity Unit told Mmegi Sport this week that the athlete remains provisionally suspended.
“His case is still going through the disciplinary process and the Athletes Integrity Unit (AIU) will not comment further until its conclusion. Amos remains provisionally suspended pending the outcome,” reads a response from AIU. Amos tested positive for a banned substance from an out-of-competition sample on June 4, 2022.
A lab analysed the sample and notified the AIU which handles doping cases in track and field. “I am currently investigating what may have caused this positive test and fully cooperating with the relevant authorities to reach a resolution,” Amos said in reaction to the outcome of the test back then. Provisional suspensions can be issued while awaiting a hearing on charges to determine an official punishment.
Amos tested positive for GW1516, an experimental drug which can modify the body’s metabolism but has been considered too dangerous for human use. GW1516 was developed to help build endurance and burn fat but was found to cause cancer during tests on rodents. Anti-doping organisations have warned athletes not to use it on safety grounds.
Amos is the first Botswana athlete to win a medal at the Olympic Games after he re-wrote history books after bagging a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Aged 18 years by then, the teenager clocked 1:41.73, which was the third fastest time in the history of 800m. Ever since then, Amos hit a snag, failing to win a medal at the World Championships and the subsequent Olympic Games. At the 2022 Tokyo Olympic Games, a potential medal fell off his fingertips when he collided with an American athlete during the last lap of the semi-final. He was later granted a place in the 800m final where he finished a disappointing position eight.