After serving a three-year doping ban, Botswana’s Nijel Amos, the eighth-fastest man in history over 800 metres, is taking on a new role: head middle-distance coach for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The 31-year-old, who owns a lifetime best of 1:41.73, completed his doping suspension in July after testing positive for GW1516, a banned metabolic modulator, during an out-of-competition test in 2022.
In a Facebook post announcing the news, Amos wrote:
“Life is full of unexpected turns, and sometimes, those turns lead us to the most incredible opportunities. Today, I am humbled and excited to begin a new chapter as the national middle-distance head coach of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is a chance to share what I’ve learned, to guide and inspire athletes, and to make an impact in a different way.”
Amos’s career on the track was among the most impressive of his generation. He won Olympic silver behind Kenya’s David Rudisha at the London 2012 Games, where his 1:41.73 performance stood as a U20 world record and the third-fastest time in history, behind only Rudisha and Denmark’s Wilson Kipketer. The medal was also Botswana’s first ever at the Olympic Games.
During his ban, Amos made headlines when he told the media he was selling his Olympic silver medal for US$300,000 to help support his family after reportedly spending more than $65,000 in legal fees to defend his doping case.
His decision to take a coaching role miles away from home appears to be another financial turning point. Iran has never won an Olympic or world championship medal on the track, making Amos’s appointment an interesting move, especially considering the gray past.
