13 Jul 2022

Team Botswana suffered a major blow following the provisional suspension of two medal contenders at the World Athletics Championship, after testing positive for prohibited substances.

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA), Vice President Oabona Theetso has confirmed that 800-metre athlete, Nijel Amos has been provisionally suspended, but was not in a position to state the name of the other athlete, as the Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO), had not given them the go-ahead.

A media release from the Athletics Integrity Unit states that Amos was suspended with immediate effect after his out-of-competition sample tested positive for GW1516, a prohibited substance under 2022 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list.

Theetso said Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) had received communication from AIU to the effect that Amos had been provisionally suspended, but said BAA could not comment further as they were yet to meet with and hear from the athlete.

“I must confirm this is the second case. The longer we wait the more it will hit at us, but let’s wait for RADO to give us a go-ahead,” he said.

For his part, National Anti-Doping coordinator, Fred Seno said in an interview that they were yet to receive communication concerning Amos’ suspension from the relevant authority.

 “It is unfortunate in the sense that Nijel has been a top athlete since 2012, and he has been part of many of our education sessions. I don’t really think he is in a position to say he has not received adequate anti-doping education,” he said.

Seno said Amos had been competing at high-level competitions for the longest time. He warned all athletes of the fact that the WADA code changed frequently, which was why his office, continuously educates athletes.

 “As part of our plan for this year, the new 2021 WADA anti-doping code education is a priority and is a very key component of any effective anti-doping programme,” he said.

Seno said since the beginning of the year, his office had been educating athletes about the repercussions of doping, adding that in addition to education, they had been doing other complimentary anti-doping elements.

According to Sports Integrity Australia, GW1516, also known as GW501516, Cardarine and Endurobol, was originally developed in the 1990s as a treatment for diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. It was discontinued in 2007 after it was linked to the rapid development of cancer during trials on mice.

It says in June 2018, the Therapeutic Goods Administration included GW1516 in the Poisons Standard under Schedule 10 - a schedule reserved for substances of such danger to health to warrant the prohibition of sale, supply and use. Ends