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 (AIU) states that Amos was suspended with immediate effect after an out-of-competition sample tested positive for GW1516, a prohibited substance under 2022 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list. 

Theetso said they have 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 the athlete. 

“I must confirm this is the second case, because 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. 

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

He said it was unfortunate for one of Botswana’s top athletes to be associated with using a prohibited substance. 

“It is unfortunate in the sense that Amos 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 a high level 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. 

He said his office has 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 disease. 

It was discontinued in 2007 after it was linked to the rapid development of cancer during trials on mice. 

In June 2018, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) included GW1516 in the Poisons Standard under Schedule 10. 

This is a schedule reserved for substances of such danger to health as to warrant the prohibition of sale, supply and use. Ends