09 Mar 2015

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) spokesperson says they do not condone leaking of information to the media before it reaches the executive committee.

Roland Masalila said action should be taken against the whistle blowers because such a behavior could tarnish the image of the association. He said it was disturbing that issues reached the media before the BAA executive committee was informed. This followed the leaking of Leungo Matlhaku’s welfare on Facebook last week.

Still in the same week, Nijel Amos was reported to have botched a doping test. Masalila said there was nothing unusual in Nijel’s case as the athlete was sleeping. He said under normal circumstances that should not have made it to the media and he wondered what could have been the leaker’s intention.

Masalila said they were taking the issue seriously and would apply their rules where necessary. “It is appalling to get a journalist calling you on an issue which is still being discussed in a meeting; an indication that there is a whistle blower in the association,” he said.

Masalila said they were awaiting some of the executive committee members who were still out of the country to return to discuss the issue of leaking the information. He said BAA was funded by government and laws applying to any government office also apply to their association.

Masalila said they had an order in which information was being relayed and said the recent style was not acceptable and said whoever was involved in such will face the music. He said they had officers who were custodians of communication within the association and they furbish their secretary general with that form of communication.

“In a case of request for interview, the PRO is the only person empowered to disseminate information concerning the association,” he said. He said there were measures in place for not adhering to the rules. “It is so disappointing to learn some things about our athletes in the media before we know them.”

The official said some of their officials use social networks such as Facebook on issues affecting athletes’ welfare adding such move can destroy the athletes. “We do not want to appear as people who are not protecting our athletes. The secretary general too is often unaware of what is being reported on as the information was never relayed to him,” he said.  

He said they are committed to address the problem before its tarnishes their name. ENDS