THE LATEST in the aches, pains & eligibility departments:
Botswana’s Nijel Amos has been formally charged with an anti-doping violation, 8 months after he was provisionally suspended. The substance involved is GW1516, a metabolic modulator.
Auburn’s Favour Ashe is still apparently struggling with hamstring issues — he pulled up 30m in to the Jones Memorial 100.
Canadian Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, the ’15 WC 800 silver medalist, had knee surgery last fall and is not racing this season. She says she is still planning on a ’24 campaign.
Marathoner Stephanie Bruce, who recently renounced her retirement plans, is now expecting a baby in September.
Long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall accepted a 1-month ban for THC, the key ingredient in marijuana (see “Last Lap”). She became eligible again on April 20.
Former Rice star Grace Forbes has revealed that Long COVID has forced her to retire from the sport. In her final race, she placed 2nd in the ’22 NCAA 10,000.
Greek hammer thrower Hrístos Frantzeskákis caught a virus at his training camp that damaged his immune system and caused facial nerve palsy. He says he’s recovered and back to training.
Versatile Trinidadian Tyra Gittens became eligible again in March after serving a 6-month suspension. She tested positive for her ADHD medication, something that had been approved in the past; this time, her TUE (therapeutic use exemption) had expired.
Eivind Henriksen, Norway’s Olympic silver medalist in the hammer, had cardiac surgery last fall, experienced difficulties with increased heart rate afterwards, and then underwent knee surgery. He’s still planning to open his season in June.
Norwegian 400 hurdler Amalie Iuel is expecting a baby in September, so is taking the season off.
World champion steepler Norah Jeruto has been provisionally suspended in a case based on her biological passport (see “Last Lap”).
Dane Joel Ibler Lillesø, the Euro Junior 5000 champ, has a fibular stress fracture and will not compete this year.
High jumper Inika McPherson has earned her second doping ban, testing positive for furosemide, a masking agent. She will regain her eligibility in November ’23. Back in ’14 she had a positive test for cocaine metabolites.
Shaunae Miller-Uibo has given birth; her son is named Maicel Uibo Jr.
Thierry Ndikumwenayo, the Burundian who ran 7:25.93 and 12:59.39, is now eligible to represent Spain.
Reigning HJ world champ Eleanor Patterson of Australia fractured a bone in her take-off foot while warming up for an indoor meet in February.
Tokyo Olympian Jessica Ramsey is taking the year away from the shot as she has given birth to a daughter.
Former TJ world champion Teddy Tamgho of France says he will return from retirement to compete in the Paris Games, when he’ll be 35. He hasn’t competed since ’19.
Serbian discus thrower Dragana Tomašević, a 2-time Worlds finalist and twice a World Ranker, has announced her retirement.
Marathon Casualties…
2:17:29 marathoner Sheila Kiprotich (who also appears in some sources as Sheila Chepkirui) had to miss Boston because of visa problems, but she got into London.
World Recordholder Brigid Kosgei revealed it was a hamstring problem that had her drop out of London in the first kilometer.
Sharon Lokedi had to miss Boston after an injury derailed her training.
Eilish McColgan did not run London because of a “niggle in her knee.”
Explaining her London absence, Emily Sisson said, “Tweaked something in my hip during a workout a few weeks ago, and it just didn’t quite heal fast enough!… Feeling fortunate it wasn’t something a lot worse.”
Natasha Wodak, the Canadian record holder, missed London because of illness.
Doping Bans…
4 years — April Aprot Nawowuna (Kenya, distance), Esther Kakuri (Kenya, distance), Esther Machuria (Kenya, distance);
3 years — Paula Schneiders (Germany, steeple);
2 years — Marie Scheppan (Germany, 400);
16 months — Inika McPherson (U.S., high jump);
1 month — Tara Davis-Woodhall (U.S., long jump). □