12 Jun 2022

 

GABORONE - Sexual harassment in sport should be shunned by all as it has potential to deter athletes from performing to the best of their abilities.

Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) president, Tshepo Bathai uttered these words at the annual general meeting in Gaborone on Saturday, after some delegates raised a concern that sexual harassment of athletes should be investigated and proper action taken against perpetrators.

Bathai said Botswana Karate Association would move swiftly to appoint a team that would investigate the matter, and report to the executive committee.

“This is a serious allegation and action will be taken against all those who find themselves in issues involving sexual harassment of athletes,” he said.

Bathai said in the next meeting, a comprehensive report would be expected from those who would be appointed to investigate the matter.

“We have Safe-Sport preaching against sexual harassment in sport, these allegations are very serious and they have to be investigated,” he said.

On other issues, Bathai said he was happy that Botswana karate continued to enjoy support from government through Botswana National Sport Commission.

He said Botswana Karate Association was now a full member of Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) adding that before the Olympics previously Botswana Karate Association was an associate member.

“We are still in talks with Botswana National Olympic Committee on whether we should go back to being an associate member, because Karate is not included in the Paris 2024 Olympics, therefore the bone of contention from Botswana National Olympic Committee was that Botswana Karate Association  should go back to its status of being an associate member

Bathai, however, said their understanding was that karate was on the Youth Olympic programme to be held in Dakar in 2026.

“So we believe Botswana National Olympic Committee should be assisting us to qualify for the Youth Olympics [because] if we go back to the associate member status they are not going to be forced to assist us,” he said. Ends