Doping: Botswana’s ticking time bomb
Friday, July 18, 2025 | 390 Views |
Scourge: Botswana is experiencing a rise in doping cases PIC: CENCENELEC.EU
In recent weeks, the entire nation has been left searching for answers as doping cases continue to escalate. This week, Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) announced two more cases from athletics involving Tshepang Manyika and Mpho Lekwalo who tested positive to Oxymetholone and Stranozolo.
Oxymetholone was also detected in samples from Refilwe Murangi, Galaletsang Gabalotegwe, and Kagiso Mogale in June. Is it a coincidence? That’s the big question. If cases continue to spike, it casts doubt on Botswana’s image on the international stage.
When the State cannot rely on its own machinery to pursue suspected wrongdoing, repairing that machinery must become a national priority.The establishment of a Special Investigations and Asset Recovery Task Force may help government respond to the immediate challenge. However, Botswana cannot afford to leave the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) struggling whilst building...