A member of Botswana's senior men’s 4x400m relay team faces a possible ban after he tested positive to a banned substance.
Information reaching Mmegi Online is that the athlete (names withheld) was part of the team that competed at the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships and was expected to travel with the team to the 2024 World Athletics Relays in Bahamas.
The National Anti-Doping Coordinator, Fredrick Seno confirmed that the athlete has been informed about the outcome of the test. “The test was conducted in Gaborone before the athletics team left for Budapest last year,” Seno said, observing that it was unfortunate that the country continued to experience positive tests although anti-doping education sessions have been conducted with the athletes.
“We are facing lack of cooperation from Botswana Athletics Association (BAA), they seem to forget that they have a role to play as expected by the World Athletics when it comes to anti-doping education,” Seno said, insinuating that the BAA was not doing enough.
Seno accused the BAA of not always being there when athletes test positive to banned substances, adding that to this day the local athletics association has not provided the National Anti-Doping Office (NADO) with a list of athletes who have either qualified or are likely to qualify for the Africa Games and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“We need that list in order to start planning for our anti-doping education targeted at the athletes. Part of those plans includes conducting tests on the athletes before they could travel to the games," said Seno.
He observed that sufficient time was needed to prepare athletes mentally as the testing experience for first-timers could cause them trauma.
Reached for comment, BAA general manager Pinkie Wilson said she was shocked by concerns raised by NADO because her association was always willing to cooperate. “The BAA is one of the leading associations on matters of anti-doping. We even provide online courses for our athletes. The courses are not limited to anti-doping as they also cover other important aspects of an athlete's life such as financial management,”Wilson said.
