Makwala: The questions that refuse to go away
Mqondisi Dube | Thursday August 10, 2017 15:34
IAAF medical officials deemed the former Africa 400m champion unfit after he contracted a virus at the Games Village.
But Makwala maintained he was as fit as fiddle, apart from throwing up on Monday, which he had described as normal.
The decision to bar an on-form Makwala from contesting left a nation seething, accusing IAAF of bias and leaving the world athletics body as Botswana’s undisputed enemy number one at the moment. The move immediately sparked a flurry of testing questions.
The IAAF medical team argued tests were carried out on the athlete, while Makwala denies the reports.
“No tests were conducted. Yes, I had a drink and I vomited, that is normal with athletes. I am feeling ok and ready for the race,” Makwala told Mmegi Sport before the 400m final on Tuesday. The organisers, through a statement, claimed a medical report had been availed to the Botswana representatives.
Which version should be believed?
The organisers said Makwala and other athletes suffering from gastroenteritis, caused by bacterial food poisoning had to be quarantined in their hotel rooms for 48 hours.
However, Makwala made attempts to join other athletes for the warm-up but was barred by security.
Wasn’t he supposed to be in the room, and his movements monitored? Instead he was seen making attempts to gain access to the 400m race? Why and how was Makwala allowed to leave the hotel room if he was supposed to be in quarantine?
What action was taken when the organisers saw Makwala negotiating and eventually being sent back by security? Had he not compromised the health of the others if he was carrying the viral disease?
The outbreak of the disease was never made the focal point of the fiasco, which led to Makwala missing the race. Instead, the organisers shifted the focus to athletes and the quarantine.
Had it been in Africa or some third world country, then there was going to be an outcry over the outbreak of the disease, and possibly the games cancelled.
How did the food poisoning occur and was it not prudent to reschedule races for the affected athletes since it took only 48 hours for the sick athletes to be allowed back on track?
Has commercial interests taken over sport?
There has been a theory that Makwala, seen as posing the biggest threat to athletics’ emerging poster boy, Wayde van Niekerk, was not the consummate athlete desired to win by the IAAF.
A Makwala win or rather a van Niekerk loss, would have taken the shine off the World Championships already ‘robbed’ of a fairytale Bolt swan song.
The proponents of the theory, who apparently include former 400m record holder, Michael Johnson, believe IAAF wanted to ‘protect’ its brand and ensure the right products are on display at the podium, that is, van Niekerk, Bolt et al, which would have enhanced the athletics brand.
Are betting syndicates at play?
Betting syndicates have ruined sports like cricket where match fixing is rife. If indeed Makwala was unfairly left out, then betting syndicates who place bets through massive monies, cannot be entirely ruled out in the foul play. Probably bets were on a van Niekerk win and therefore the apple cart was not going to be upset or ruined by one Makwala.