02 Dec 2015

The current doping scandal besieging sport in the world has not only shocked sport pundits, but sport administrators equally.

First, it was the Russia Athletics Federation which was suspended over doping scandal, and Africa is also affected as recent reports suggest that Kenyan athletics were also suspended over IAAF ethics commission probes into corruption and subversion of anti-doping controls.

According to AFP, Athletics Kenya president, Isaiah Kiplagat was suspended along with vice-president, David Okeyo, an IAAF council member, and Joseph Kinyua, former federation treasurer and Kenya team leader at the IAAF 2015 World Championships in Beijing.

Reports say the trio was suspended “from any IAAF or athletics Kenya position pending investigations of complaints made against them following evidence and information which has been received by the IAAF Ethics Commission.”

The predicament is also a concern to the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) and their president, Negroes Kgosietsile said the recently released report into widespread doping allegations issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) independent commission challenges all to review their anti-doping programmes.

Speaking at the BNOC annual general meeting, he said as the National Olympic Commitee, they remain committed to fair play and would continue to ensure compliance with the WADA code and other relevant rules including testing of athletes in and out of competitions. 

“We are in consultation with the government to establish a fully-fledged national anti-doping office,” he said.

Kgosietsile said as per the WADA code, in a country where there was no national anti-doping organisation, the NOC becomes the recognised body to progress the mandate of WADA and anti-doping activities in that country.

He said the BNOC would continue to ensure that Botswana was compliant to the WADA code through educational awareness and testing. He, however, said they were constrained by resources, and appealed to the government to assist in the intervening period.

Talking about the team’s performance, the BNOC president said local athlete’s performance in the international arena continues to be impressive. He noted that team Botswana gave an impressive showing during the 2015 Samoa Youth Commonwealth Games by scooping two gold medals and a bronze, noting that in previous editions Botswana managed to win two medals each in 2008 and 2011. He, however, said the performance of women remains a challenge, adding that they would continue to support those who show potential to become competitive at future games. 

“To this end, we have prescribed a 60:40 ratio of girls to boys for the 2018 Youth Olympic Grant Talent Identification Programme. We are also supporting the women’s volleyball team towards their qualification efforts for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games,” he said.

He noted that so far only athletics have already qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. They are 400 metre runners, Isaac Makwala, Onkabetse Nkobolo, 800 metres runner, Nijel Amos and the men’s 400x4 relay team.

Kgosietsile told the gathering that only two out of the five who have qualified were beneficiaries of the Rio 2016 scholarship programme, adding that other athletes from judo, boxing, swimming and athletics were still in the qualification stages. Ends