David Rudisha’s Biggest Track Rival Lands Massive Role in Iran After Completing Doping Ban

Botswana’s former Olympic 800m silver medallist Nijel Amos completed his doping ban three months ago and he has a new job.

Amos, who was handed a three-year doping ban in May 2023, over the use of the banned substance GW1516, having been provisionally suspended in July 2022, after failing the drug test during an out-of-competition test a month earlier.

The 31-year-old won a silver medal at 2012 London Olympics but saw all that glory taken away when he was suspended for the anti-doping rule violation but he used his time away from the sport very well.

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Amos signed up for a World Athletics Level One coaching course in Zimbabwe as part of his retirement plan from competition and he completed it just at the time his ban was ending in 2025.

He has now been appointed middle distance coach for the Iran national team and has expressed delight at his new role in Tehran as he seeks to pass on his knowledge to the next generation on Iranian athletes.

“Sport has always been my passion, and now I get to help shape the next generation of champions and contribute to the development of Iranian athletics,” Amos told Botswana outlet Mmegi.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games champion was asked whether he is experiencing any language barrier in the Middle East nation but confirmed that his work has been smooth so far as his athletes understand English.

Amos, a three-time Diamond League Trophy winner, intends to work in Iran for a long time after landing the lucrative role as he begins a fresh chapter in his career.

The Botswana star took silver at the London Games, in what many called the greatest Olympic race in history when Kenya’s David Rudisha lowered his world record.

It was Botswana’s first and only Olympics medal but the doping saga wiped away all the glory, leaving him and his country embarrassed before he apologised to his nation.

Letsile Tebogo has since given Botswana Olympics glory after winning the 200m gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games before anchoring their 4x400m relay team to a silver medal at the same event.

Amos had some epic battles with Rudisha during their time on the track, beating the Kenyan on some occasions, including at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.