Khama warns Olympic athletes against doping
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday July 27, 2016 11:33
Khama was speaking at a send off ceremony for the team on Monday night at the Gaborone International Convention Centre.
Khama said the games come at a time when sport is riddled with reports of doping by athletes, sometimes assisted by their coaches to enhance performance.
“That is cheating. We as Botswana cannot tolerate that. I appeal to all of you to play clean sport and preserve the good name of our country. Our position as government is that Botswana sport is clean. We will not tolerate doping,” stressed Khama.
Khama said they agree with the suspension of athletes, officials or anyone in authority involved in doping. He said the government is against the banning of all the country’s athletes, in the form of collective punishment like what had happened to Russia.
“That is unfair, unjust, unethical, undemocratic and violates the very principles of participation by world sportsmen and women,” he said.
Khama gave an example of Russia that had its athletes banned from participating in the Olympic Games by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Khama welcomed the decision by the International Olympic Committee that rescinded the blanket ban on Russia.
Botswana will be making its 10th appearance at the Olympics, having made the maiden appearance in 1980.
Khama said the government’s commitment and investment in sport over the years coupled with robust development systems in place had resulted in sportsmen and women moving from mere participation to being strong competitors on the world stage.
Meanwhile, the president of Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC), Negroes Kgosietsile said the ministry of youth, sport and culture gave the BNOC support to prepare a strong team that can compete on the world stage.
He said the government sport development initiatives have seen new talent being unearthed across the country.
“We might be sending a small team to Rio, but our aim is to surpass the London 2012 record. Some of these athletes are still young and they will still represent Botswana at the Tokyo 2020 games,” said Kgosietsile.
The games start on August 5 and ending on August 21.