Zimbabwean runners disqualified
Naledi Lemogang | Friday September 22, 2017 15:08
The two runners had accused organisers of failing to properly demarcate the route, which saw other runners go off track.
After they engaged organisers, citing ill-treatment, it was initially agreed that the two share P20,000.
But the organisers have thrown out that arrangement and said the two are disqualified and therefore return home empty-handed.
Marathon director, Legojane Kebaitse said the two no longer qualify for any prize money after a decision to disqualify them.
The prize money for the women’s runner-up in the 42km race had been withheld pending the resolution of the matter.
Now, the runner who finished third will be elevated to second and earn P30,000 while number four takes the bronze medal, moving into the third spot and receive P20,000.
“We had to follow procedure,” Kebaitse said.
He said the matter is now resolved and there is no how they are going to be controlled by athletes who did not follow the right route.
“All the winners we have used the correct route the entire race and what is left is for them to be paid.
At first we had said the two athletes will share the second place cash prize money before we recognised that the runner in third place had finished her race without going off track,” Kebaitse said.
He said the organisers might have failed to properly mark the route, but it will be wrong to give money to runners who got lost.
“Our marshals did not see them at the 35km spot therefore they are disqualified even though they might have exceeded the initial distance,” he noted.
“The matter is solved, we have filled position two spot with an athlete who passed all the marked spots in the 42km marathon. What is left is for the runners to be paid. The Zimbabwean long runners are disqualified due to failure to follow the right route despite them running extra kilometres,” Kebaitse said.
Meanwhile, Tsatsa and Moyo had said they got lost as there were few marshals along the route to direct the runners.
They blamed the organisers for the mix-up.
The two said they never saw the marshals at the 35km peg and that they feel cheated and mistreated.
“The organisers are not telling the truth; they are just creating stories in a bid not to pay us,” Moyo said from South Africa.
“Their hatred will kill the relationship between Botswana runners and other countries.”
She said they are going to persist with the matter until evidence is availed that indeed, they did not pass the 35km mark.