Integrity Unit flags Botswana over doping
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday February 2, 2026 06:27
According to the latest December 2025 AIU classifications, Botswana is now in Category B.
National Federations (NFs) are categorised annually by the AIU Board in three different categories: A, B, and C, according to the level of doping risk to the sport.
The body stated that Category A indicates the highest doping risk, whilst C reflects the lowest. The classification was introduced at the beginning of 2019 following a recommendation from the AIU Board to the World Athletics Council.
The purpose of the rule is to ensure that Member Federations have clear anti-doping obligations, play a greater part in ensuring a level playing field and elevate the overall standard of integrity in athletics.
Botswana Athletics Association’s (BAA) CEO, Mabua Mabua, explained that the classification was reached after reviewing the country’s Anti-Doping activities and results in 2025.
“Consequently, the AIU has imposed mandatory conditions, which must be met for athlete eligibility in all World Athletics Series events.
“No athlete shall be permitted to participate in the World Relays Gaborone 2026, unless they have undergone three no-notice out-of-competition tests within the period of June 26, 2025, to April 25, 2026,” he said in a letter to clubs.
The other mandatory conditions are that each athlete will have to undergo three tests before April 25, 2026 and that the final no-notice out-of-competition test must be completed no later than April 25, 2026.
Mabua added that the AIU has emphasised that strict compliance with the conditions is mandatory and will be carried forward to the 2027 World Championships in Beijing, China.
“We are deeply concerned about the compliance implications of these developments,” he said.
“We have notified other stakeholders, and measures are being taken to ensure full compliance. We implore clubs to notify athletes, particularly those who are in the provisional team.”
Asked who will foot the doping tests bill, the BAA CEO revealed that the government will take care of the expenses.
Meanwhile, African Zone VI Anti-Doping Organisation, Andrew Kamanga, told MmegiSport that Botswana used to be down in categories but has shot up the rankings. “We are now being treated using Category A conditions. The situation is bad, and we are under scrutiny. We are now forced to conduct many doping tests, which come at a cost.
“If an athlete does not have a record in the Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS ), they will not be allowed to compete,” he said.
Kamanga noted that local athletes are at high risk; instead of being happy with good performance, global sponsors will look at athletes with a different eye. He said some sponsors are already pulling away.
He added that the government would have to shoulder the bulk of the doping tests budget because BAA cannot afford to.
“Even if there was no scandal, tests were going to be done,” he said.
When asked about concerns over sample swapping raised by some affected athletes, Kamanga said there was nothing of that nature.
“Our Doping Control Officers (DCO) implement the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) highest standards, the same standards used globally,” he said.
“We also use the same courier, like other countries, to transport the samples to the lab. The sample containers are tamper-proof; they are only opened at the lab. Those are people clutching at straws.”
Kamanga said athletes who do not want to accept their results are behind the allegations. He revealed that in certain instances, some athletes would say the samples do not belong to them.
Kamanga said after collection, samples are coded, the lab tests using the unique codes of each sample and no names are sent to the lab. He said highly qualified professionals analyse samples, and the chances of mixing samples are impossible. “DNA analysis was conducted, and it was established that the samples belonged to the concerned athletes. They are being mischievous. They use substances that are not even found in pharmacies, and we wonder where they get them,” Kamanga said. He said athletes never complain when tested outside the country, but Botswana has some of the best DCOs, hence they are invited to test at international competitions such as the upcoming World Relays and Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow, Scotland.
Furthermore, Kamanga said some cartels have infiltrated sport, just as they have done in Kenya. “We do not have the high number of athletes like Kenya. We should come together as a nation and fight this scourge. We do not want to see people’s efforts going down the drain,” he said. Kamanga said the rise in doping cases might lead to the government reducing support towards sport if athletes continue to test positive, whilst there are other pressing issues of national interest.