Montsho�s fans fail doping test

Mqondisi Dube | Friday August 15, 2014 11:39

Amantle Montsho is the perfect incarnation of Botswana’s sports success.

Her small steps grew from the remote Mabudutsa and went on to tame and conquer the world.

Her defiant wins were enough to remind the world of a vast but sparsely populated nation that exists on the southern tip of the African continent.

That country is Botswana, a nation of proud people who have always regarded themselves as an oasis of peace in a sea of turmoil all around.

With that peace and tranquility came prosperity that, catapulted a once bleak, barren land into a middle-income country whose economy was counted among the best in the world.

The only thing that however eluded Botswana was competitiveness in sports.

Botswana was dead, buried and forgotten.

Then the girl from Mabudutsa stepped in and doubters started rubbing their eyes in disbelief as she romped to the finishing line ahead of athletes from much more illustrious countries like the US, Britain and South Africa.

Back home she became a heroine that slayed the notorious tiger. Her name was in everyone’s lips.She was adored.  Amantle Montsho rose to prominence to easily become Botswana most recognisable sportsperson around the global.

Her defining moment arrived in Daegu in 2011, when she beat a strong field at the World Athletics Championships to land the world crown.

This was a first for Botswana.

To say the line-up in Daegu was intimidating, will be an understatement.

The best from around the world including Sanya Richards-Ross, and Allyson Felix stood flexing their muscles at the starting line with the whole world watching with keen interest.

 But it was Montsho’s time.

The Daegu moment where she belatedly underlined her status as the best in her generation, translated Montsho into a global sport icon.

Her arrival in Botswana from international trips always sparked a frenzy.

Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Shaw Kgathi became a regular at the Sir Seretse Khama Airport to frequently welcome a woman who had grafted so hard to put Botswana on the world map. The nation rallied behind her and she hardly disappointed. The reclusive Mabudutsa born star has never been one for the flashing cameras, instead preferring a low profile.

Her achievements found the right spaces in the press as she, and the nation, basked in glory.

At 28, when she became world champion, Montsho was considered a late bloomer but nonetheless, had arrived on the big stage.

In 2012, Montsho’s stay at the top was briefly shaken. She suffered the ignominy of failing to dip her head at a crucial medal moment, therefore missing out on that elusive Olympic Games medal.

The fans gave her a glimpse of how quickly fragile the relationship can turn.

Agitated supporters took to social media to express their disappointment at Montsho, blaming her for failing to deliver the ‘promised’ gold.

She was relegated to second place on the favourites’ list when one lanky boy from Marobela burst through a pile of 800m runners to clinch silver at the Olympic Games. From the golden girl the focus shifted to the silver boy.

But Montsho refused to be down beat.

In 2013, she immaculately picked herself up end finished top of the Diamond League pile and earned handsomely as a result.

All this while, Montsho managed to keep away from the public eye and the preying paparazzi.

However, somehow a thug managed to pounce on her at the Main Mall in Gaborone.

Sports authorities appealed to the media not to disclose Montsho’s earnings, fearing it was attracting unnecessary attention and alerting unruly elements. Then in 2014, Montsho’s star began to fade, even finishing a disappointing fifth in the Diamond League as she battled to retrieve her form.

She went to the Commonwealth Games under pressure and again Nijel Amos upstaged her as he grabbed gold.

Then came the shattering moment; Montsho tested positive for a banned substance at the Commonwealth Games.

She requested a B sample, which sunk the reality further as it returned positive.

Montsho’s failed doping test provided a sterner examination of her relationship with fans.

A fan posted on her Instangram account, “You took drugs.” “F**k you,” Montsho responded, in evident agitation.

The cosy relationship was not elastic after all.

After the B sample result Montsho reportedly exchanged words with a journalist on Facebook before pulling down her account.

However, some were more sympathetic urging Montsho to be strong. A sweet relationship that had bloomed over the years from Mabudutsa, scattering globally, tasted sour overnight.

At 31, Montsho is acutely aware she faces a defining career moment in the coming days.

The last issue on her mind was a verbal brawl with fans who adored her just days before methylhexaneamine befouled the relationship.

The doping test has proved a late, late party spoiler.