11 Jul 2024

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice president, Oabona Theetso expressed disappointment about the two recent cases of doping.

The two athletes, who have been provisionally suspended by Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC), are Pertunia Gaegopolwe of Lion’s Den and Ditiro Nzamani of Sportview athletics clubs for doping.

The two, who are 400m runners, tested positive for Metabolites and Stanozol and Metandienone respectively, which are prohibited under the 2024 WADA prohibited list and Anabolic Androgenic Steroids. 

“We are yet to establish from the athletes what could have happened given that they were always given education on the dangers of doping,” Theetso said in an interview.

He said doping was a threat to Botswana athletics while continuing to have such cases might give people the wrong impression that the country’s athletes thrived on doping.

“And I still appeal to both athletes and coaches, let us promote clean sports.

Administrators, let us be close to the coaches and athletes to promote clean sport,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to a press release from BNOC, the provisional suspension is mandatory following an adverse analytical finding for such substances under the Botswana Anti-Doping Rules and the World Anti-Doping Code. 

The release says the athletes have been notified of the adverse analytical findings as well as their mandatory provisional suspensions from sport and associated activities. 

It further says BNOC collected the samples from Nzamani and Gaegopolwe during the in-competition tests on February 17 and April 21 respectively. 

The two cases, it says will however undergo processing in line with the international standards for results management to determine fair and impartial outcomes.

They add to the 15 cases that Botswana has already recorded; something considered a threat to athletics and the country owing to its small population. 

Some of the athletes have served their suspension while others were still serving. Ends