Montsho back on track but Olympics dream over
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday March 2, 2016 14:25
Montsho has returned to training but is still serving a two-year doping ban, which ends in July and it would be too late for the star to make the Olympics cut. She would be 37 at the next Olympics in 2020.
Rio 2016 chef de mission, Moses Moruisi confirmed on Monday that Montsho is out of this year’s Olympics.
Montsho tested positive for a banned substance, methylhexaneamine, at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. She became the first athlete from Botswana to win a Commonwealth gold in 2010 and the first to win a World Championship gold in 2011.
Moruisi said it would be late for the runner to compete at the games because the qualifiers would have ended. The athlete would have to go through some processes after finishing her suspension.
For his part, the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) spokesperson, Glody Dube told Mmegi Sport yesterday that Montsho has started training. He said they would have wished to have her in the team that is going to the Olympics.
He said even though she is on suspension the athlete is allowed to train.
“She is not allowed to train with other athletes. She can only use facilities such as the stadium when other athletes are not present. She should not interact with other runners at all,” he said.
Dube said the BAA is not allowed to get her a personal coach like they do with other athletes.
Meanwhile, Moruisi said they are concerned about the outbreak of the Zika virus in South America.
“We are worried about the welfare and health of our athletes who would be competing in the Olympics,” he said. “We are in constant engagement with the Ministry of Health to monitor the situation and advise us accordingly. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is also keeping a keen eye on the developments.”
Moruisi said the IOC was working with stakeholders to give progress updates. He said at international level, the BNOC was paying attention to the World Health Organisation (WHO), who to date have not issued a travel ban on Rio. He said he hoped that the Olympics would take place in Rio as scheduled.
Moruisi said getting closer to the games, the BNOC would make a call regarding participation based on guidance from MoH, IOC and WHO.