Montsho surrenders fate to IAAF
Mqondisi Dube | Friday August 22, 2014 12:58
The former world champion faces a two year ban which, if effected will mean that she all, but calls time on her illustrious career. Montsho tested positive for a banned substance soon after the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on July 30 and was immediately banned. She requested for a B sample, which also came out positive. After deliberations, Montsho decided to accept the outcome and now her fate- and potentially her fate lies in the hands of IAAF.
The Botswana National Olympics Committee (BNOC) yesterday issued a press statement
“...after careful consideration of the available options, (Montsho) has since written to the CGF, BNOC and the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) waiving her right to a formal hearing, and accepts the results findings,” the BNOC statement reads.
“The IAAF will guide on the next steps and the subsequent penalty to be imposed on the athlete.” BNOC communications and marketing manager, Lame Ramokate told Mmegi Sport that they could not determine the period the case will take.
Montsho had been given up to today to decide if she wanted to appeal or accept the doping results.
Doping experts who spoke to Mmegi Sport last evening say Montsho now has to prove beyond reasonable doubt that she unconsciously consumed the banned substance.
“Now she has to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that she did not deliberately take a banned substance. If she does (prove), she might escape with a lighter sentence or even a warning,” an expert said. Sources said Montsho maintains she took medication which she suspects contained the banned methylhexaneamine.
“But that has been hard to believe. The other version is that she took an energy drink. The danger is that if she insists on the energy drink version and the banned substance is not found in the drink then it will be like she is hiding something.”
The source said Montsho had no other option, but to accept the result. “She had to disprove CGF’s evidence. The Federation had produced evidence that Montsho’s sample contained a banned substance. So it was near impossible to prove otherwise, there was no other option (except to accept the results),” the source said.
Now Montsho’s fate is firmly in the hands of IAAF and her evidence will be key. The penalty will depend on her mitigating submission, with a nation now keeping its fingers crossed that she gets away with a light sentence or better still, a warning. The 2010 Commonwealth Games 400m champion had planned to retire from athletics in 2016.