Game over for doping athletes

Although the extent of doping in Botswana remains unknown, there are fears that some athletes might be unwittingly using banned substances.BNOC chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said they have began random tests in all sport codes.

"We test at random, athletes in and out of competition. We started with a few codes, but we are widening the pool," Serufho told Mmegi Sport. A few athletes have been tested and samples sent to a laboratory in Bloemfontein, South Africa, currently the only World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited centre in Africa. The other in Tunisia is currently closed after errors saw athletes falsely accused of doping. Botswana has 10 Doping Control Officers, six of whom graduated last week under a course organised by the BNOC. Serufho believes athletes would not be caught unawares as there have been education campaigns on anti-doping.