17 Aug 2014

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has given the former 400 metres Commonwealth and world champion, Amantle Montsho, 14 days to have responded to the letter from the federation after the results of her A and B samples tested positive of a banned substance.

In the letter, the CGF gave Montsho two options, either to attend a formal hearing before the federation court or waive her right to such hearing and accept the findings.

Montsho’s A and B samples tested positive for banned stimulant methylhexaneamine during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

Speaking during a press conference on August 14, Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) senior vice president, Botsang Tshwenyego said they could not make any influence but would rather remain neutral and leave Montsho to make her own decision.

He said BNOC as a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) could not comment on the issue because it was an ongoing case.

“We have a conflict of interest thus at this stage we are not in a position to discuss the matter further until the relevant deliberations and processes have been concluded,” said Tshwenyego.

However, the deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Youth sport and culture, Peter Mongwaketse said the government was extremely concerned considering that Montsho was a high profile athlete who had raised the nation’s flag high on a number of occasions.

“Her situation is sad, we have been waiting for the results of her sample B. Therefore we will submit a full official statement very soon,” he said.

Tshwenyego said Montsho was home and currently receiving the necessary support. He said she was in no position to make any statement. Montsho had been advised to avoid making comments on social media. Ends