2 October 2024
Botswana’s Nijel Amos is setting his sights on a major comeback in the 800 metres, sending a clear message to rivals like Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Marco Arop, and Djamel Sedjati. After serving a doping suspension, Amos is focused on reclaiming his place among the elite, with his target set on the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.
Amos, who was banned after testing positive for the prohibited substance GW1516, had his suspension shortened for cooperating with authorities. Now, as he prepares for a return to the track, the 29-year-old is determined to reestablish himself in the 800m, which he believes is his strongest event.
In a recent interview on the Punchline podcast, Amos outlined his plans for his return, hinting that he’s also looking to improve his times in the 400m.
“I’ve always been both a 400m and 800m runner,” he said. “Even without intense training, I’ve clocked 44.91 seconds. But my focus is really on the 800m – that’s where I belong.”
Amos emphasised his readiness to reclaim his place in the sport, adding, “I’ve been away too long, and now it’s time to return and take back what’s mine.”
Amos first made headlines in 2012, winning silver in the 800 meters at the London Olympics in a race where Kenya’s David Rudisha set a new world record. Despite this early success, his performances at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games fell short of expectations. In Rio, he didn’t make it past the heats, and in Tokyo, he finished eighth in the final.
While Amos was absent from the 2024 Paris Olympics due to his ban, Botswana celebrated a historic moment through the achievements of Letsile Tebogo, who secured a gold medal in the 200 meters and helped the men’s 4x400m relay team earn silver.
With his return on the horizon, Amos is eager to reassert himself as a dominant force in the 800 metres, aiming to make 2025 his year of redemption on the global stage.
