Makwala matter escalated to Africa athletics boss
Calistus Kolantsho | Thursday August 10, 2017 15:34
Makwala was withdrawn from the 200m heats and 400m final by the IAAF medical team due to the Norovirus attack on Monday.
Botswana’s team manager, Moses Raphutse told Mmegi Sport yesterday that they will update Malbaum about the situation. He said CAA president was in the dark about the incident, which had shocked the entire athletics world.
Just before the 400m, the Botswana delegation, comprising Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) president, Thari Mooketsi, Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chief executive officer, Falcon Sedimo, BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng and other delegates met on Tuesday to draft an appeal letter to the IAAF.
“We had expected them to respond before the 400m final but they delayed up until the race. They then sent the response to Botswana. Even as I speak to you, we have not received clear answers from IAAF,” he said. Meanwhile, Raphutsi said Makwala was fit and were surprised when a decision to quarantine him was taken by the medical team.
“We hatched a plan on Tuesday that Makwala should travel to the stadium before the rest of the team. But we did not know that they had planned an ambush for him.
Upon his arrival, they sent him back to the hotel. The sad thing is that the only test done on him on Monday was to check his blood pressure after he had vomited,” he said.
Raphutse said no blood samples were taken from the athlete. The other athlete, Onkabetse Nkobolo is said to have recovered.
The team manager said chances of Makwala being included in the men’s relay team are high.
Regarding the rest of the team, Raphutse said the team did well and registered positive numbers. He said despite that, Baboloki Thebe and Nijel Amos posted poor results in the 400m and 800m respectively because they were affected by the Makwala incident.
IAAF head of medical team, Pam Venning said during an interview with BBC Sport that they had examined Makwala’s pulse, respiratory system and medical history. “There was no need for us to take any samples from Makwala because he had symptoms of Norovirus,” Venning said.