Nijel Amos Tests Positive

I don't know anything about it myself, but a quick use of the search function shows many references on this site dating back at least a decade.

Too bad they can't strip his Olympic silver

Saw this in an AP article from a thread:

“The agency said on its website that Ananenka had tested positive for the banned substance GW1516, a drug which has not been ruled safe for use by humans.
Studies found GW1516 to boost endurance in rodents, but also that it caused rapid development of cancer in test subjects.
The drug has previously been found in use by professional cyclists and by Russian Olympic race-walking champion Elena Lashmanova, who was banned for two years last year."

-Seems pretty unsafe, but maybe it came from a burrito?

Evidently the stuff is highly carcinogenic and was abandoned by the original company researching it, which might be why a lot of people don't dope with it. They caught some people early on with it and it is sold on the black market as endurobol.

Always been one of the shadiest characters in the biz. Numerous previous evasions of previous findings and whereabouts thanks to a corrupt system. Will kind of miss his "churning in the wake" flailing down the front straight though.

"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.

GW1516 works by forcing skeletal muscle to use fat rather than carbohydrates as an energy source. Used by some for fat loss, in the context of athletic enhancement, GW1516 also has benefits as an endurance aid.
GW1516 has been linked to a number of positive doping tests in endurance-related sports. After a number of positive tests for GW1516 in 2013, WADA released a warning on its health risks. In 2015 and 2016 there were less than six positive tests for GW1516 globally each year. In 2017 however, the number of positive tests for GW1516 rose to 31.
In June 2018 the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) included GW1516 in the Poisons Standard under Schedule 10 – a schedule reserved for substances of such danger to health as to warrant the prohibition of sale, supply and use.
Athletes seeking to obtain an “edge” from the use of GW1516 need to be aware that they risk more than a positive test if they choose to take it – they may be risking their life."

"GW1516 appears to “have an effect on a gene that’s involved in the building and regulation of muscle” — a gene known as PPAR-delta. The research done by Evans and his colleagues showed that giving GW1516 to the mice enhanced the activity of the PPAR-delta gene, leading to the development of slow-twitch muscle that will preferentially burn fat over sugar or muscle protein.
You can see the benefit for endurance athletes here: if exercise is burning fat rather than carbohydrates and muscle protein, then you can utilise more energy sources without losing muscle mass."

Seems the drug would be used for weight loss as the fat metabolism and slow twitch benefits would not help an 800m. Such a dangerous drug as well, if Nijel is really using it he clearly needs professional help as he is risking his life for such marginally better performance.

Off the top of my head, I can name only two runners from Botswana - Amantle Montsho and Nijel Amos - and now both have tested positive for banned substances.

Amos also went missing from at least one drug test years ago, but did he accumulate the necessary number for suspension? I thought there was some attempt to attribute the missed tests to fear that he would test positive for marijuana, but that attribution becomes less credible now doesn't it?

I never get any joy out of seeing one of the sport's top stars test positive. Oh well.

GW1516, aka cardarine, is a sarm that is likely one of the most popular drugs for endurance athletes. I’m not even sure it’s illegal in the US. Very short half-life.

DJ Zorro wrote:

Off the top of my head, I can name only two runners from Botswana - Amantle Montsho and Nijel Amos - and now both have tested positive for banned substances.

Amos also went missing from at least one drug test years ago, but did he accumulate the necessary number for suspension? I thought there was some attempt to attribute the missed tests to fear that he would test positive for marijuana, but that attribution becomes less credible now doesn't it?

Isaac Makwala is owed an apology

THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:

DJ Zorro wrote:

Off the top of my head, I can name only two runners from Botswana - Amantle Montsho and Nijel Amos - and now both have tested positive for banned substances.

Amos also went missing from at least one drug test years ago, but did he accumulate the necessary number for suspension? I thought there was some attempt to attribute the missed tests to fear that he would test positive for marijuana, but that attribution becomes less credible now doesn't it?

Isaac Makwala is owed an apology

OK, I recognized the name Makwala - I mainly recall him as an old man in the sport now -but somehow was unaware he is Botswanan. Anyway, I think he has not ever tested positive for PEDs.

I look forward to contributing to Nijel's GoFundMe for legal bills to fight this verdict!