Amos accused of breaking rules
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday September 30, 2023 06:00
Amos was photographed alongside Onkabetse Nkobolo, Diphetogo Selolwane, and Amantle Montsho. An unnamed source has raised concerns regarding Amos's association with the sport throughout his suspension, as per World Athletics regulations.
Initially handed a four-year suspension by World Athletics, Amos saw this period reduced to three years after admitting his culpability. The source stressed the Botswana Athletics Association's (BAA) responsibility to ensure strict adherence to the ban's stipulations.
“World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), World Athletics, Regional Anti-Doping Agency (RADO) and Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) as the National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) for Botswana rely on the BAA to enforce the bans.
Yes, he is serving a period of ineligibility and should not be associated with sport in any way, especially launching of major athletics events in the country or anywhere else for that matter,” a source said. BAA vice president-technical, Kenneth Kikwe clarified to Mmegi Sport that Amos had no direct involvement in the Orapa marathon event.
“It was just a photo shoot in which we also have acted upon it as the club. I admit that Amos should not be involved in sport activities, we have noted,” Kikwe said. Amos achieved historical significance as Botswana's first Olympic Games silver medallist when he secured a silver medal in the men's 800m event in 2012. His recent doping violation involved the prohibited substance GW1516, which he tested positive for in the lead-up to the track world championships. Amos received a reduced sanction from the standard four-year ban due to his admission of guilt. Consequently, he will be ineligible to participate in the Paris Olympics scheduled for next year.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) ruling revealed that Amos initially requested tests on a supplement he had been using before the positive test result. However, no traces of GW1516 were found either in the bottle he had used or in another unopened bottle of the same supplement. The AIU further noted that Amos had signed a form admitting to the doping charges. GW1516, originally designed to enhance endurance and fat burning, was found to cause cancer in tests conducted on rodents.
The AIU collected the sample from Amos during an out-of-competition test in 2022. According to WADA regulations, during a period of ineligibility or provisional suspension, no athlete or individual may participate in any capacity in a competition or activity.
Meanwhile, Botswana has recently reported three new cases of anti-doping violations, involving Diacore Gaborone Marathon silver medallist Gladys Jepchirchir Cheruiyot, footballer Kaone Van der Westhuizen from Sua Flamingoes, and Muhammed Aboo Dada of Motorsport.