Anti-doping body demands answers from Jele

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday December 22, 2017 11:46

 

While there has been a veil of secrecy around the matter, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has demanded answers from the athlete.

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) president, Thari Mooketsi said they are still waiting for a response from WADA, as the case is between the anti-doping body and the athlete.

“The last time we heard from WADA was when they wrote to Jele asking her to state her case, as to what really transpired. They copied us the communication,” he said. Mooketsi said on Tuesday this week, he received a call from Jele, who wanted to know if WADA had contacted BAA on the matter.

The athletics president said the BAA would only step-in once the matter has been finalised by WADA.

Reports are that Jele’s Sample A tested positive and the athlete turned down an opportunity to take Sample B.

There has been no official confirmation of the doping from the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC). BNOC chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho insisted this week that he could not comment on the matter as it was still under investigation.

Jele becomes the fourth athlete to fail a doping test, after Amantle Montsho in 2014, rugby players; Emmanuel Ntshiwa and Lesedi Cherry in 2016. All three were banned for two years, with Ntshiwa and Cherry initially receiving a four year ban, which was later slashed to two on appeal.