Olympian Nijel Amos, recently hit with a three-year doping ban, has revealed plans to sell his 2012 Olympic silver medal in a bid to support his family. In the London games, his achievement in the 800m race secured him the distinction of being the first Botswanan to win an Olympic medal in any category.
The 29-year-old athlete received a doping ban last week, originally slated for four years but reduced to three following his signed confession. Despite this, Amos continues to maintain his innocence.
“Clearing my name and that of my beloved nation, Botswana, has been a financially exhausting process over these gruelling 11 months,” Amos lamented during a news conference in his home country.
His 2012 Olympic silver medal is, he stated, his only substantial asset. “I am consulting various stakeholders, including financial advisors, on how it can secure a future for me and my family,” he continued. He revealed that a team had expressed interest in purchasing the medal for 4.5 million Botswana pula (approximately 300,000 US dollars). However, with a forthcoming documentary on Netflix, he believes the value could increase to 7.5 million.
Surviving as an athlete in Botswana, where no pension or lump sum insurance payouts are provided, is a challenge, he admitted.
Amos, who won Commonwealth gold at Glasgow 2014, was initially suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in July 2022. This followed the detection of a banned metabolite in an out-of-competition urine sample. All his results since 4 June 2022 have been nullified.
“I am acutely aware that the AIU’s ruling brings disgrace to our nation,” Amos conceded, extending a heartfelt apology to his fellow citizens, athletes, and athletic bodies. Despite this, he voiced the belief that with more support from his local sports bodies, the situation might have been different.
The Marobela-born runner, who bore the flag for Botswana at the 2016 Rio Olympics, cited legal advice as the reason for signing the admission, aiming for a ban reduction.
Despite the setback, Amos, who will be 31 when his ban lifts on 11 July 2025, remains committed to returning to the track. “I have no retirement plans,” he affirmed, adding that he’s received an outpouring of support from his fellow athletes. “I’m no longer doing this to be the best athlete in the world – I’m coming back to clear my name.”
Image Credit: Reuters
