Nijel Amos Suspended from World Athletics Championships After Testing Positive for Doping

Botswana's Nijel Amos has been provisionally suspended by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) just a few days ahead of World Athletics Championships after testing positive for a prohibited metabolite GW1515.

The AIU collected the sample from Amos during an out-of-competition test on June 4, 2022.

The 2012 Olympic Games 800m silver medalist Amos was informed of the positive doping test while preparing for the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Amos was scheduled to compete in the 800m heats on Wednesday, July 20.

"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," the IAU said in a statement.

At the 2012 London Olympic Games, Amos won the 800m silver medal, Botswana's first-ever Olympic medal.