Jele to miss Olympics despite new 2021 date

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday April 3, 2020 20:18

The 400m athlete was suspended in 2017 for taking a stimulant, but would, however, not return in time for the Olympic Games.

Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the Tokyo 2020 Games have been moved to July 2021. But Jele only returns to the track in October next year.  Botswana National Olympic Committee chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said Jele can realistically compete in the World Championships, which have been moved to 2022.

“Jele might probably compete at the World Championships, which have been moved to 2022. However, when she completes her suspension, she would be expected to fight for her position in the national team just like everybody else,” he said.

The evidence that was led before the Athletics Integrity Unit showed that Jele took the banned steroid, Dianabol in October 2017. By then Jele was aged 28 years and by the time when she returns to the track she would be 31. The athlete was at the peak of her career when she suffered the setback.

She was part of the national team that represented Botswana at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the IAAF World Championships London 2017.

Hardly two months following her return from London, Jele would make a fateful error when, according to her own evidence, she decided to sip water from a bottle that was contaminated by her husband’s steroids.

Meanwhile, the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) is still awaiting the findings of the Commission of Inquiry set up last week to investigate circumstances surrounding two athletes, Onkabetse Nkobolo and Baboloki Thebe breaking camp rules recently. The two were later involved in an accident, which left Nkobolo requiring an operation, while Thebe was charged with reckless driving. BAA vice president-administration, Oabona Theetso told Mmegi Sport that there have been some delays.

“They are still investigating and the deadline has been extended until further notice pending the conclusion of investigations,” he said. However, Nkobolo is still admitted at Gaborone Private Hospital.

Meanwhile, the BAA decided to break the national team camp on Tuesday. The team was preparing for July’s Olympic Games, but the competition has been moved to 2021 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.